No 164 Low Angle Smooth Plane – Huon Pine

The Henry Eckert Low Angle Smoother is based on the USA produced Stanley #164.

We believe it is the highest performing production Low Angle Smoother available.

We have used the best components available. The body is stressed relieved, locally cast, ductile iron and is precision surface ground flat giving accurate 90 degree sides.

Flatness – We metrology measure our tools for flatness. This tool is measured in 400 points across the sole. Average variance is .00047″ or 12 microns (1000 microns in a single millimetre). The tool’s sole is dead flat.

Squareness – The tool is metrology measured on both sides with an average variance of .00017″ or 5 microns. The tool’s sides are dead square to the sole.

It weighs a hefty 1.86 kgs (4.1 lbs), around the same as a ‘modern’ No.4 bevel down standard ‘Stanley Bedrock copy’ bench plane. It is the traditional length 250mm, and 64mm wide.
The exceptional PM-10V tool steel blade is the thickest around for a No 164 (6.0mm), 50mm (2 inch) wide, 25° bevel with a Howard Adjuster as standard. It sits on a precision machined 12 degree bed.
The cap iron is hand cast manganese bronze. We manufactured the thumbscrews and fittings from solid brass.
It has a precision machined adjustable mouth allowing the finest gossamer shaving or a thicker shaving for quick stock removal.

Handles are offered in Fiddleback Red Gum or Huon Pine. The Fiddleback Red Gum comes from a massive tree in the north of South Australia. The timber from the tree is riddled with fiddleback but the lengths are short, just right for plane handles. Our Huon Pine choice (it is not a pine btw) is simply our homage to this famous timber indigenous to Australia, it’s Tasmanian history is incredible. Overtime the timber will turn a deep golden honey colour.
The rear tote handle has enough height to ensure all four fingers sit comfortably. The handle and knob suits both small and large hands due to calculated thicknesses..

The weight is down low in the body, lowering the centre of gravity and increasing the heft and planing power of the tool. The side walls have more area to assist shooting board stability.

Craftsmen, carpenters & woodworkers determined the basic design elements of this tool mostly prior to the time Stanley manufactured the plane from 1926 – 1943. Today it is arguably the most versatile and effective smoother available.