Garrett Hack’s favorite handplanes

Garrett Hack is an experienced woodworker with a passion for hand planes, a tool he has mastered over the years. He believes in the value of having a few high-quality planes over a large collection of mediocre ones. Hack’s journey with hand planes started in childhood and has since involved restoring and collecting various models, each with its own unique story and characteristics.

He recounts experiences with different planes, such as the Stanley #604 Bedrock, which became a reliable daily user after some restoration. Hack also highlights modern planes like the Lie-Nielsen #62 and the Veritas apron plane, which have impressed him with their performance and design improvements over classic models. He has a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship of planes such as the Norris A6 and the Spiers jointer, which are known for their exceptional quality and have become rare collector’s items.

Additionally, Hack shares anecdotes about unique planes he has acquired, like the thumb plane from British planemaker Bill Carter and the meticulously crafted planes from Karl Holtey. He also touches on user-made planes, such as a bullnose rabbet plane and a coopering plane, which required significant tuning but became indispensable in his work. Moreover, Hack has a fondness for molding planes and a Japanese smoother, both of which have served specific purposes in his woodworking projects.

Through his experiences and the relationships he has built with other craftsmen and planemakers, Hack has not only expanded his collection but has also gained a deep understanding and respect for the history, functionality, and beauty of hand planes. His story illustrates the significance of these tools in the woodworking tradition and the joy they bring to those who use them with skill and care.