Surform

[The Medway Handyman]

Hi

Anyone still use one of these? They used to be a 'must have' but I haven't used one for years. Are they any good these days?

[Lobster]

I have one which I use exclusively for trimming the edges of plasterboard to fit the space I want it to!

David

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I've always found them a disappointment. Never use mine these days.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

You're supposed to use a sharp blade.

I use mine quite often to take a few thin shavings off the sides of wood ie when doors become stuck in the hole. :-)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

It is - and I have a new spare.

I'd use the electric plane these days. But before, a sharp ordinary plane was still better than a Sureform.

[Huge]

I use mine a fair amount. Especially since I bought a new blade for it.

[Dave Fawthrop]

|On 2006-08-05, The Medway Handyman wrote: |> Hi |>

|> Anyone still use one of these? They used to be a 'must have' but I haven't |> used one for years. Are they any good these days? | |I use mine a fair amount. Especially since I bought a new blade |for it.

Mine gets lots of use. Great for rough work on wood, I also got a new blade when the old one was knackered. I also have one with a plastic body which is not as good as the old metal one.

[S Viemeister]

I have three, and use them often - in the kitchen. They're great for shaving cheese, chocolate, removing the rind from citrus fruits, etc.

I don't remember the last time I used the one in my toolbox.

[Guy King]

The message from "The Medway Handyman" contains these words:

Yes. Not all that often, but there's the odd occasion when they're just the right tool. Surprisingly good at cutting across the end grain for trimming through-tenons after assembly.

[PhilC]

Be very careful - these are razor sharp - got my daughter to bring some rotary discs back from USA. She decided too touch one - as I had told her they were very sharp - she only did it the once............

PhilC

[Andy Hall]

Conversely, there is a range of tools made by Microplane

are on the same principle but an order of magnitude better than the Surform.

There are a number for woodworking including planes, rasps, drums - even a replacement blade for a Surform that makes it worth using.

Then there are a selection of kitchen graters and a personal care product for removing cheese from other places.

[Guy King]

The message from Andy Hall contains these words:

My brother has a cheese grater (hard cheese - parmesan, that sort of thing) which had round holes in it which appear to have been burred at the edges with a reamer or some such. It's wickedly sharp. I wish I had one to do my heels with.

[Andy Hall]

Oh I know

That's why they are good.

[Frank Erskine]

I find Scholl "Cracked Heel Cream" pretty effective for that, but it does pong like old-fashioned Germoline.

[Andy Hall]

Leaving the cheese aside for a second, my wife has really bad problems with her heels - cracked, split etc. If you have this problem, have you tried Flexitol? Works really well when pretty much everything else has failed.

[Guy King]

The message from Andy Hall contains these words:

Hasn't worked yet - but I've only been using it for a few days. During the winter I have lovely soft feet, but this summer I've been in sandals since late May and my heels have really suffered from it. Showering instead of baths doesn't help, either - no chance for a really good long soak.

[Andy Hall]

Yep. tried that one - one of the many including lanolin, you name it...]

[Douglas de Lacey]

But whereas the latter can be bought in Europe, the (appalling) website says that woodworking tools are not avaialable -- though the US bit of the website offers a load of tools. Anyone know why?

Douglas de Lacey

[Lobster]

OK that's enough... can we close this thread now please???

[Andy Hall]

So I just discovered. No I don't. I did buy some a few months ago from Axminster but they seem to be gone from their site.

From Microplane International's site, it seems that they are not currently available anywhere in Europe.

I've emailed them to ask why.

Generally, though, this type of issue is one of a few things:

- Patent infringement/dispute.

- Product liability issue.

- Lack of sales.

If the worst comes to the worst, their stuff can be ordered from Woodcraft, Rockler and others in the U.S.