Test

b y t h e p o p u l a r s t a f f Bridge City HP-6v2 Multi-

Cut ready-to-finish profiles and joinery with this modern multi-plane.

When the electric took control is as simple to set up and use as a of the modern workshop, legend has it that , and changing pro- cabinetmakers burned their defunct moulding files takes just five minutes. planes in their shop stoves for heat. You simply remove the cutter, Routers made it simple to produce miles of turn two brass knobs (no moulding in a day, but there’s a downside to needed) and slide the brass soles the tools that’s rarely discussed. When you’re off their dovetailed ways. Then cutting just a few feet of moulding for a cabinet you reverse the process with the that’s going to bear close scrutiny, you have new profile. to invest a good deal of time both setting up Some of the details of the HP- the tool and cleaning up the mouldings. In 6v2 are very smart. The cutter contrast, a moulding plane cuts a ready-to- has its profile ground on both finish profile. ends, so you always have a spare Now Bridge City Tool Works has devel- edge that can be ready if one gets oped a multi-plane that is part router and part dull. The cutter rides in a narrow moulding plane. Like with a router, you can channel in the frog, which makes HP-6v2 Multi-plane choose from a lot of profiles. And like a mould- setting a new profile in place a Bridge City ■ 800-253-3332 ing plane, the result needs no further work. snap (literally). There is still a little wiggle in or bridgecitytools.com The HP-6v2 is essentially a brass and alu- the channel to allow you to line up the cutter Street price ■ $489 for a starter kit minum plane that accepts a wide variety of right where you need it. The cutters are thick For more information, circle #162 on Free Information Card. different soles, cutters and fences to make (3⁄16"), which makes them easy to sharpen different profiles and joints. Though it looks and unlikely to chatter. And finally, the cut- like there are a lot of moving parts, the plane ters are bedded in the HP-6v2 at 55° – this files during my test drive. All made perfect high angle greatly reduces the potential for lengths of moulding with little effort. The cor- tear-out on your work. ner cove profile required the most skill because There are some downsides to the tool in you need to use a 45° and must plane comparison to a router or traditional moulding a before you begin. The V- plane. Many of the corner profiles require you profile was great fun and created crisp details to first plane a small chamfer on the corner that needed no further refinement. before the final moulding profile. The profile was a surprise. It made That’s an extra step. narrow trenches that would be nice shadow Also, the depth stop on the HP-6v2 has a bit lines in a project, but you also could use the of a learning curve. It’s a narrow rail of alumi- dado cutter to make crisp tenon shoulders. num that attaches to the sidewall of the plane. Bridge City says that dozens of profiles If you don’t keep the plane vertical, the depth are in the works for the plane, so watch the stop won’t work as intended. It doesn’t take company’s web site for details. long to master, but it’s something you don’t The HP-6v2 is sold in a variety of configura- Innovative. The dado sole of the HP-6v2 has a have to do with a traditional moulding plane tions. A starter kit with everything you need remarkable slitter in front of the cutter that slices that makes one profile at one depth. to get started with a base profile is $489. the cross-grain, eliminating chip-out. I used the HP-6v2 with a few different pro- — Christopher Schwarz

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32 ■ Popular Woodworking April 2008 photos by al parrish and PW Staff