Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Plane making

Section one - About you

Section two - Description of the craft

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:
  • Business issues: There are lots of issues which affect all small businesses, such as the inability to buy in bulk, and new legislation regarding pensions for all employees.
  • Market issues: Demand for traditional handmade tools is very limited in the UK.
  • Market issues: There is definitely a market for high quality hand-made tools. Woodwork is a favoured past-time for people of high net worth with stressful jobs, and there are only half a dozen or so people worldwide making super high end infill style planes.
  • Market issues: The new, bespoke and high-end handtool market is growing rapidly, particularly in the USA where there are many makers. We have also noticed a decline in the demand for high end vintage/antique hand planes in favour of new ones. This is great but If this trend takes a dive, demand will fall too and some of the makers will fold as a result.
  • Training issues: There is no structured learning for the craft in any one place. The internet is the best resource but it takes many years of research and practice to properly learn the craft. It depends on what Is being made too on how varied the skill set needs to be – making a handmade wooden plane is completely different from making a handmade infill plane, as is making a cast production plane etc. In reality, every maker is self-trained, or has previous relatable experience that can be utilised.
  • Market issues: Plane making isn’t very well paid. Bespoke toolmakers agree that they do it for the love of the craft, not the pay check. Customers don’t appreciate the sheer number of hours of incredibly skilled labour that must go into production in order to have a product of that quality, and the investment in materials, machinery and running costs.

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. lack of demand for products/skills etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

Tick the box if there are difficulties with the supply of raw materials, allied materials or tools

If yes, please describe the issues below

i.e. issues around running any small business, not just crafts

If yes, please describe the issues below

Is the main workforce made up of people who are approaching retirement age?

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. legal restrictions on materials, health and safety etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. Brexit, Covid-19, conflict

If yes, please describe the issues below

Please describe any other issues

Section five - Current Initiatives to preserve craft skills

Please describe any UK projects or schemes

Section six - Main players in the craft – please tell us who you know about

Please list any known practitioners of this craft — add a row item for each person or business and complete the fields to the best of your knowledge. To get started click the `Add practitioner` button below.

1
Add practitioner

Section seven - Optional additional information

It may include when and where the craft developed, how it has changed over time, etc.

e.g. festivals, religious celebrations, agricultural practices, music, dance etc.

e.g. religious, ethnic, social class. Please give an overview of the techniques involved in the craft.

This may involve different materials, techniques, styles or finished products.

e.g. books, websites etc.