Melbourne Tool Company: Are They Any Good?!

[@melbournetoolcompany]

Matt, thanks for this video! As the new kid on the block, we really appreciate you sharing your initial thoughts on the tools.

[@tobins6800]

These look very nice. All of his criticisms are par for the course. Only the highest end tools do not require AS MUCH work, every single one should have the blades sharpened.

[@cuebj]

So... money goes on essentials and the rough edges reflect the price and leave you to fine finish them which is easily doable. Looks like a well thought out range

[@woodfather]

I reckon the best thing about that router plane design is that the blade is sharpened like a chisel is, no fiddling around like the veritas L shape dealie. Also Matt, please test out and demo the spokeshaves! I bought them as soon as they came out last year as they looked so pretty, but beyond playing around I've done nothing useful with them 😆

[@Cleanshave50]

Also love the fence so you can use it like a rebate plane.

[@feathersword8232]

Yep, it’s really easy to sharpen by hand, it was a selling point for me when buying my first router plane.

[@johnbesharian9965]

@@Cleanshave50, You might wish to consider adding a longer "Shoe" to that fence to counter any tendency for it to veer off track, as it were, when trying to keep it tightly against your reference edge while dadoing or grooving.

[@anthonyseiver7000]

I have the low angle Jack and have had it for a few years (from their first production run). It's a workhorse even with rugged Australian timbers. Flattened, squared and smoothed a big piece of Spotted Gum for a chopping board, mostly with that one plane. The steel is M2 tool steel or high speed steel. This can make them harder to sharpen (v O1 or A2 tool steel), but it holds an edge well.

[@tom314]

Always nice to hear about a new manufacturer :) A review after you've used them would be great along with checking whether the sole is flat.

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

Made in the same factory as Luban, for a premium over the base model. Get Luban if you want to cheap out, or learn how to restore old tools and get something markedly superior if you can't afford something honestly marketed & made. .

[@melbournetoolcompany]

@@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589 thanks for sharing your thoughts. Our tools are not made in the same factory as Luban. A large part of the research, development, and manufacturing process was finding a manufacturer that would make the tools to our standards, and we found one that produces quality precision tools.

[@1pcfred]

I made a comment that's virtually the same.

[@jamesfulghum6189]

I like the angle of that tote. That looks really comfortable.

[@SimonHoning]

I've owned the block plane for about a year.It sharpens well, holds edge well & compares admirably to my Lie Neilsen block.The somewhat longer bed of the plane is also a huge advantage.

[@aksting]

I have been looking for a low angle jointer and smoothing plane. The only one that I could find was Veritas. The additional blade angle options are nice.

[@shanehertzog5812]

I really like that router plane ,nice blade adjustment beautiful finish.

[@abydosianchulac2]

You're right, gotta love a well-shaped knob in the hand.

[@Cleanshave50]

😂😂

[@Leftyintollerable]

😂😂

[@joseescoto9069]

Would love an in depth review of the jointer. I can’t stomach the price of a no7 lie Nielsen and the price point is very attractive

[@MarkL71]

Good to see you Matt. Nice range. I'll give their spokes, scraper and routers a punt, I could feel the comfort/tactility of that cork. Otherwise I'm happy with my Lei's & Veri's. Although.... 🤔.... their No.7 looks nice and hefty. I'll look out for a 30s short of you planing some oak 😉 Cheers Matt 👍🏼

[@מעייןהמלבלבתחייםםםם]

Thanks! Good review!

[@henryskinner1092]

Thank you for a great video. You have peaked my interest in these. I would really like to purchase them. I have an old block plane, and a knock off of a Stanley no.4. I have been a long haul trucker now retired. After 10 years of cancer, I am ready to do some woodwork. Thank you again. Stay Safe and God Bless.

[@woodnotestudio]

Great review. They do look like some nice plains worth the money.

[@pkkriz8610]

I have an old hag's tooth wooden router with the straight irons so I was very happy to buy try the mini router as it is easier to sharpen, and used to adjusting depth with hammer taps. Been a great tool for fitting hinges

[@cluelesscleric]

...tool duel, tool duel, tool duel...

[@westonstaheli5663]

Tool Duel! Tool Duel!

[@nicetryfbi357]

tool duel! tool duel! tool duel!

[@malcolmpas]

Matt, thanks for the overview. Some interesting products to consider. Can’t wait to see you use them at the bench and then the Subscriber give away 🤩

[@hairbygio]

Hi Matt, love this review! Hope your well

[@timothyades9983]

I have just purchased the large router plane. Imo, since making the Paul sellers router plane, I have found the angled blade seating to be a game changer. The ease of sharpening makes this design far superior to other router planes. I love using router planes, but would avoid sharpening my 71. I can now sharpen my rp blade just as easily as a chisel - and would never go back to using planes with the vertical type plane iron.

[@thijspluis9998]

Please try then out and compare them to other, similar tools

[@kentneil7100]

Looks great and will be a great addition to the tool set at a reasonable cost 👍

[@peterjohnston8507]

Thank you. Very interesting and informative.

[@ohasis8331]

The packaging is pretty good and stops it banging round in the post.

[@RodneyMcKee]

Would like to hear your thoughts after the planes are prepared and used.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Nice overview - I heard about MTC recently and definitely a nice alternative for some of us who can't afford Veritas or LN. I would be curious how their router plane compares to the Veritas.

[@melbournetoolcompany]

You got it! We wanted to address the gap in the market. A quality tool that falls more into a middle price point.

[@markduggan3451]

They look great.

[@gtd-sq2pj]

Good show!

[@thompsonfamilyhuntingadven4036]

Pretty good huh. I’m pretty impressed, they’re probably going into my workshop. As yet I have no low angle planes.

[@WoodworkJourney]

They look great, just checked on the Woodworkers Workshop website here in the UK and they’re still out of my price range but I’d certainly like a low angle number 5 equivalent from them

[@dpmeyer4867]

Thank you , nice work

[@Ivo_Serra]

It would be very nice to see you using these tools and help us know if they are as good as they look😉

[@the_semi_competent_woodworker]

Have they said who's going to be carrying these in the UK yet?

[@petersefton9153]

Wood Workers Workshop have the full range in the UK and do ship overseas.

[@erkeltree]

Nice planes, but, they are only as good as the users. I have a wonderful collection of Bailey, Stanley, Record planes. Love them. just learn to use and maintain them and most woodworkers very happy with their own tools. Thankyou for the presentation, I hope they are well received and they do well.

[@B_COOPER]

a sticky mouth means good tolerances. It’ll rub itself down ;-)

[@taylo256]

Great video, follow up after bit of use please.

[@adamharkin26]

Whats the wait time on getting these in the uk?

[@jimrosson6702]

Great video Matt , as a new woodworker I’ve been looking for a hand-plane but just don’t have a lot of experience and money for the high end ones so this could be a great option. Thanks for sharing. What was the name of the spoke shaves that you use those look really beautiful and I really like the look of them??

[@rsv-code7004]

This is great information, thanks for doing this video! The number 1 question I still have about these is how difficult is it to maintain an edge on M2? I pick O1 normally since I'd rather sharpen frequently for a short time than occasionally for a long time. I like just touching up with a strop regularly to keep tools sharp. I'm guessing regrinding a primary bevel on M2 must be really painful, at least without using a powerful girder that risks killing the heat treat.

[@harrylenton9984]

great video

[@mitnoxin]

Nice! Any of the bench planes look good for the shooting board?

[@GSJQuick]

He mentioned the jack would be good for a shooting board.

[@1pcfred]

I'd have liked to have seen a sole lapped. Definitely one sharpened up and making some shavings too. They certainly do look nice enough. Not so sure about a norris adjuster myself. It is good that someone's still at least trying to make decent hand tools in this day and age.

[@sparkyenergia]

Very interested in the non standard planes. I have built out a full set of Turner planes a side from the block plane which is super rare. So I need some of the others.

[@PaulTreefella]

If you're not keeping them, how about giving them away in a competition.

[@cblack1863]

Those lever caps are very Veritas Customee!?? Not bad. As far as pricing goes with plane's, it seems like what your paying for with the high end one's is the blade steel and that human touch at the end doing the final QC and fine finishing handles/deburing etc... What's the blade steel? HSS?... Ductile steel bodies? Different how it looks like the handles are attached with a set screw?

[@Sneakymacd]

Too bad these are not available in Europe. They look pretty good. I might get the cabinet scraper if I could get it. I wonder how they are compared to brands like Juuma, Kunz and Dictum as they appear to be in the same price range.

[@petrsidlo7614]

I wouldnt be surprised if they came out of the same factory floor. I have dictum and luban planes and apart from paintjobs and few minor details they appear to be exactly the same. While these are different in their dessign they also look very close manufacturing vise.

[@FPL-LARD]

available in uk so i guess also mainland europe

[@williamn01]

They will definitely come out the same factory , Woodworkers workshop stock them in the UK now .

[@melbournetoolcompany]

WoodWorkers Workshop in the UK carries our tools and they do ship to Europe

[@melbournetoolcompany]

@@williamn01 Thanks for mentioning Woodworkers Workshop. We are happy to have them carry our tools! Also, our tools do not come out of the same factory as those other brands. A large part of our research, development, and manufacturing process was finding a manufacturer that would make the tools to our standards, and we found one that produces quality precision tools.

[@dale1956ties]

The flatness of the plane soles being an important aspect of their functioning could have used some time in his video. I'd have rather seen that than the little flaws in the wood parts. Overall tho, a very informative and sincere first impressions look at these tool. Well done Matt.

[@nickmagma7745]

What do you think about clifton planes?

[@petrsidlo7614]

I really like what they've done design-vise, that being said, its too bad they went the low angle only route. It takes away the market of the people who prefer high angle planes.

[@williamn01]

Blade change to a higher angle which is offered .

[@petrsidlo7614]

@@williamn01 i prefer standard frog and a chipbreaker, i know i can use blades with different angles in a low angle plane, but that just isnt for me

[@ThePhilGrimm]

In the semi premium class, how do they compare with Wood River? Both you and Rob Cosman are five-and-a-half guys but he advocates Charlesworth and you don't. I'm curious. Please elaborate.

[@kengoodwin459]

are the plane blades interchangeable between manufacturers?

[@uwyphi]

they look like heavyweight showpieces for power toolists more than a daily driver for hand toolists honestly everything being low angle and thick casting makes me think they don't really understand hand toolists user experience of planing wood 8h a day the bevel down routers looks good and the prices seems fair for brand new premium tools

[@JosephNicastro-vc1fr]

Are we not test the soles for flatness ?

[@Peter_Bovey]

so matt how many of these are you keeping?

[@gregmislick1117]

Okay, the low angle No 7 Wide Body has my interest, as well as the other 2 low angle bench planes. Very nice lineup. As to “out of the box sharp irons - yeah, that’s bull . Li finally got stones good enough and the LN - 62 stepped up its game SO many levels to where all the hype made sense all of a sudden. These do look interesting - now to see the price. I mean, I haven’t paid more than $30 for a plane if my own yet (the 62 belongs to my dad … not that he will ever see it again 😅)

[@johnbesharian9965]

And to just think, you wrote this the day before Father's Day. "Dutiful Son" my sweet bippy.

[@joegiotta7580]

Looks like they took a look at Paul Seller router plane design.

[@djellworth]

Interesting but somewhat frustrating not to also know if they actually work well. (Quangsheng planes can look and feel great but I've had some terrible examples of poor quality control when you get down to tissues such as blade flatness.)

[@toolsaddiction]

I live in canada those are the same price as veritas or close enough

[@firefighter9901]

I don't know man a low angle jack plane is 200 bucks off their website and I can get a veritas for 289 is it really worth not saving 90 bucks to not getting a veritas that's essentially a premium tool.

[@nickw3902]

I dunno man, your comment seems to assume the Veritas are better merely as a function of price. Watch from 8:00, Matt himself says sharpening the Veritas sucks

[@1deerndingo]

Low Angle Smoother v Bedrock Smoother. I've been sold on the benefits of a chipbreaker for a smoother. I've also been sold on the benefits of an adjustable mouth for a smoother too. And both designs can have a blade swap out to give a higher angle of attack on the cutting edge. That said, It'd be quite informative for the industry to hear your thoughts on the matter.

[@petrsidlo7614]

I think he talked about it a few years ago on dedicated video about necessary planes.

[@Settez123]

Where can you buy them in the UK?

[@williamn01]

Woodworkers workshop stock them now .

[@Settez123]

@@williamn01 thanks!

[@williamn01]

​@@Settez123No worries mate

[@mickysevens]

Anyone know the brand of adjustable square Matt uses at 15:30?

[@GSJQuick]

Looks like a little Starrett

[@1pcfred]

@@GSJQuick good to avoid today then. As Starrett is just about in receivership now.

[@JeanClaudePeeters]

Dictum /Luban/Juuma with a twist.

[@gav2759]

It's a long time since I flattened the back of a plane Iron. I thought David Charlesworth's ruler trick put an end to all that malarkey.

[@1pcfred]

The ruler trick is malarkey.

[@gav2759]

@@1pcfred Come on mate. We need more than that, if we are to roll back progress.

[@1pcfred]

@@gav2759 I don't know what you want. I just never cared for the ruler trick. I want a back flat. Putting a ruler under an iron doesn't accomplish that.

[@gav2759]

@@1pcfredHey that's fine, fill your boots. My original remark was aimed more at those with less time to expend on needless toil.

[@1pcfred]

@@gav2759 save all the time and just skip using hand planes.

[@MrMikeEdie]

If I were you I'd put some LED light sin those displace cabinets behind you.

[@richardkelleher1711]

I went to their web site without turning on VPN and it popped up with a big waving American flag. Kind of creeped me out that they are pandering in such a way. When I turned on VPN and set to Australia, it switched to the AU/NZ site and there were no big waving flags, just the location flag at the top of the screen. I just wonder who they are trying to get as customers here in the US by being such a flag waving company. Also, did the boxes indicate where their manufacturing is located, I couldn't find it on their web site.

[@SuppenHahnBier]

They look so nice, too bad they have no European shipping center yet.. shipping and customs would make them less interesting to buy

[@melbournetoolcompany]

WoodWorkers Workshop in the UK carries our tools, and they do ship in Europe. You could check out there and see how things looks for shipping and customs.

[@Mike--K]

I live in Germany and am a satisfied Wood Workers Workshop customer. They take care of the German VAT and duties at the point of sale, so I don't have any surprises later with the Zollamt. I would be very surprised if this is not true for the rest of the European countries they support.

[@nagranoth_]

Those adjusters are an automatic nope. I thought it wouldn't be a problem and bought a Veritas plane, and I've hated it since the first day. Everything else about the plane is great, but you CANNOT use this plane in a normal way. If you tighten the blade loosely enough that you can use the adjuster for depth the blade just angles around any which way while adjusting or planing. If you tighten it enough that the blade doesn't shift around (and I needed to add a washer to be able to do this reliably) you cannot adjust depth because it's so tight. I'd basically spend at least half an hour trying to adjust the blade to get it straight and at the right depth (including tapping it with a hammer because the adjuster will either jerk sideways or not move at all) and then you're planing and want to adjust the depth.... and you have to make a choice. Do I carry on with the wrong depth setting, or do I spend an hour adjusting it back and forth several times? Or do I plan out all the different depth settings, do all my pieces with one setting, then change, do them all again. It just becomes I time wasting planning nightmare that shouldn't exist. Finally bought a Lie Nielson, couldn't be happier. I can adjust depth whenever I want. The sideways adjustion of the blade just works, AND stays in place. I can adjust on the fly as much as I want... I tend to use them in pairs now, where I have the Veritas as the fixed rough setting, and the Lie Nielsen as the adjustable fine setting. Never buying a plane with a norris style adjuster again.

[@cuebj]

Helpful and I'd tend to agree but I haven't used my hand planes (some bought second-hand about 1973) often enough to change them.

[@PandaKnight52]

Manufacturing quality is all about what you pay for, yeah you can get cheap stuff from China but if you pay the money you can get the good stuff too. I do think companies should leave to China because of lower wages though. China should pay their workers more

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

They're not made in Melbourne, they're made in China, so that's a no from me.

[@robertharris1748]

Just like the computer/phone you're writing this on and probably 90% of the things in your house. I mean yeah, I get why some people would want to support domestic if they can, but you sound like a complete prig in this comment.

[@joshstead7083]

Bob

[@yasarmevlutoglu776]

Даже ручной инструмент,, Роскошь,, Я не могу себе позволить,,

[@okiwatashi2349]

Are the scissors broken in your house son?

[@Leftyintollerable]

No such thing as made in Australia anymore, unfortunately.

[@pakmans]

No actual usage?

[@robertberger8642]

Disappointing video. Only first impressions? Mostly pointless waste of time. Nothing here to help me with a serious purchasing decision. I am usually a fan of yours, but not this time.

[@roybailey1134]

It looks like powder coating to me .

[@theofarmmanager267]

The aesthetics are very nice but those genuinely don’t worry me. I want a tool that works well out of the box (I agree totally about your sharpening comment) and stays consistent through its life. I don’t know what they cost and so can’t comment about value for money but that middle ground of cost profile seems to me to be both the most competitive and have the most potential. Whether there is enough to tempt someone to buy a new brand is, I guess, wait and see. My planes are virtually all Veritas. I find them very good but wonder if they, and LN, deliver that much better product than the middle ranges. I think it doubtful that any hobbyist would really justify the extra money for the very top ranges. In terms of where they are made, it’s an interesting question. Axminster make a lot of tools themselves in Devon but also buy in from the Far East other tools made to their specifications. I dipped my toe into the Banggood waters several years ago and, by sticking to just a couple of brands (Banggood are a shop window as are Amazon) like Veiko, Manoo, I haven’t been disappointed. Very good value and as accurate as I need them to be (I’ve yet to start on building my space shuttle and so will accept normal tolerances on a product like wood which moves a lot with humidity). I don’t like the idea of buying from China in that you would have to be simple to think that the despicable Chinese dictatorship doesn’t earn from the exporters. But, equally, I understand that products like aluminium and tool steels are a global commodity and come with a standard-ish price. So why should I pay (for instance) Woodpeckers several times the cost of a Veiko square when either does the job equally as well? Should I be putting my hard-earned into the pockets of Americans rather than Chinese? I rather think the reality is that companies like Woodpeckers, Festool, Rubio and many more price their goods not based upon cost plus but rather on what they think their high end market buyers will pay. Fairly typical of companies owned by, or run by, bean counters.

[@MattEstlea]

Very well said. Agree with everything in this comment 👍

[@cuebj]

I don't have Festool or Woodpeckers or use Rubio but I'd disagree with your term 'high end market buyers'. That might be true for amateurs, eg retired dentists, but Festool, in particular, are for jobbing professionals: the warranty is worth the extra to start with as is the speed of setup and work for repeatability, cleanliness, and precision where time is money - they pay for themselves in a few jobs. Even amateurs still in work, eg dentists, might appreciate the speed so they get more done during their time off from work and family. Dropping down to my pension level, I bought a corded Makita diamond core drill for just two jobs. It was cheaper than paying a pro and not much more expensive than hiring for a few days. It's far better made than cheaper alternatives which gives confidence in potentially dangerous positions. I thought my DeWalt SDS drill would do the job but, not being designed for torque, it soon started smoking and the last few years have seen DeWalt give up on corded quality. So - what is 'high end'? It's in the eye of the beholder and the user applications for that tool and their time

[@theofarmmanager267]

@@cuebj with respect, you may have missed my point and, indeed, even confirmed it. If I take a Festool domino as an example, I have both sizes and have used them for many years. They have undoubtedly paid me back the cost price (particularly as they were considerably cheaper when I bought mine) but I would suggest ,and believe that the sales price of either model has been set not upon what it costs to make plus a profit margin but rather what will the market stand. If the bean counters believe it will save the average tradie, say, £200 per year on saved times, why not charge £600 more than cost as the tradie will think that a payback of 3 to 4 years is a good deal. If you take a Woodpecker square - and I have several Woodpecker tools - then it does it job very well. But then so does my Veiko square and that cost a fraction of the Woodpeckers model. If you accept the raw materials for both cost the same and that labour costs are fairly minimal for items made on a CNC, then how do you explain the difference in sales price? It’s my belief that it can only be accounted for if someboday has asked how much will the market pay for a Woodpecker square? I’ve also no doubt that the marketing costs for Woodpecker are much higher as I suspect they give away to influencers quite a lot of product. All those bright red squares and rulers that I see on the background of some woodworking videos led me to think that there is a deal of “free product but show it” going on. Some people then equate a woodworker whose work they admire with I must have the same tools to achieve the same

[@pinkiewerewolf]

I'm the 666th like... sorry about that. 😉

[@johnbesharian9965]

LOL! "The Hell you say?!"

[@pinkiewerewolf]

@@johnbesharian9965 😂

[@doubledarefan]

Thanks for "birding out" the foul language. Because foul language is for the birds!

[@WoodcraftBySuman]

This guy might know a thing or two about hand tools.

[@travelwell8098]

Looking forward to the full review video after some hours of use!

[@paddyr1568]

Hang on, how is buying Lie Nielsen or Veritas supporting domestic jobs/companies, they’re American and Canadian, which is undoubtedly overseas. If you want to support UK companies, then buy Clifton, Ashley Iles or Sorby.

[@abydosianchulac2]

May have been phrased for an American/North American audience? I don't know what Matt's channel metrics look like, but I know a few British channels whose highest viewership is over here so they phrase things from an NA point of view (dollars instead of pounds, American cultural references, using American terminology over British almost exclusively, etc.). Honestly kind of a shame; it pulls me out for a sec as I work through why they're sounding so American.

[@James_T_Kirk_1701]

China

[@shadrackwahonya3445]

Hairline

[@halorail]

Thanks Matt