As you may know, we have been making custom blades for most of the 39 years Hock Tools has been in business. One-off blades have provided a great opportunity to engage with woodworkers on a personal tool level. When a woodworker needs something a bit different than what is on shelves or online or has an idea for a tool, we talk about it, they send a drawing, and we go at it to make that drawing into a useful tool.
Recently, however, my heat treater - the best match I found since my previous best one sold his business – told me they are quitting the oil-hardening steels heat-treat trade and want to expand the rest of their shop into the area occupied by their oil-quench furnace. They gave me until July 31.
I know there are other heat treaters out there but it’s a daunting task to vet a new one – our needs for such services are really quite small. It sometimes takes us a couple of months to accumulate a minimum batch of custom blades. I decided to close our custom blade services but needed someone I could refer my customers’ requests to.
That is when I called Raney Nelson at Daed Toolworks. You may already know Raney. He is one of our most talented toolmakers. He is a creative problem solver, knows and works metal, is also a woodworker (he has me there!), and has an excellent heat treater nearby – you name it!
I so hit the jackpot! After thinking about it a short while, Raney is happy and willing to take over our custom blade orders.
I do not have to worry because you are in Raney Nelson’s good hands with your custom blade needs.
Please check out Daed Custom, the custom blade arm of Daed Toolworks. While you are there, check out Raney’s infill planes - not to mention (when they’re in stock) his improved pattern dividers, and new plane hammer. I’m told there are a lot of new things on the way over the next few weeks, so it is worth a bookmark. -- Ron Hock
