Description

A very rare Ashem Crafts trapping plane, made in England and designed specifically for chair makers, an exceptional example of one of the most specialized tools produced by this highly respected modern British maker.

The trapping plane is a purpose‑built tool used to taper and modify cylindrical lengths of wood that have already been brought to round by the Ashem rounding planes. It excels at refining spindles, sticks, and other chair components where subtle, controlled tapering is required. The design was developed from a traditional wooden device once used for making greenheart fishing rods in the Redditch area of Worcestershire, giving it a fascinating lineage that bridges craft traditions.

Ashem Crafts produced these planes in very small batches, each one carefully shaped and tuned for smooth, predictable cutting. Their scarcity on the market today reflects both their limited production and their usefulness—most were bought by working chairmakers who kept them.

A beautifully made, highly functional, and extremely hard‑to‑find Ashem Crafts trapping plane—an outstanding addition for any serious chairmaker or collector of modern British craft tools.

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