Hock Blockhobel-Set

Putting this kit together was honestly the most satisfying afternoon I've had in the shop in a while. The components fit together so precisely that I barely had to fettle anything, and the feel of the finished plane in my hand makes me want to build another one.

The machined surfaces on the kit mate together so cleanly that assembly took me barely an evening, and the adjustable throat mechanism works right out of the box. I've already built two of these for my bench and the precision is addictive.

The blade seating is dead-on precise out of the box, and the machining on the bed is clean enough that my first shavings came out glassy. It took me an evening to assemble, but that hands-on time made me trust the tool way more than a factory one.