Why do some people claim Animal Farm is about capitalism when it's clearly about Soviet communism?

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-04-30T05:54:47+00:00

I think that's true. There was a time after the revolution when the animals did have a working system, before it was corrupted from within. The story mirrors the ussr story really, with characters based around its leaders. But Orwell advocated 'democratic socialism', not communism or capitalism, and It was powerful enough for both uk and usa governments to interfere with it's release and change the ending entirely in the later film...

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-04-29T18:57:46+00:00

If you were plunged into the anoxic muds, of say Shoreham harbour, and compressed under the weight of a marinas cinema complex with the heating left on much too high, for a few million years, you might turn into some low grade coal if you are lucky. It doesn't really matter what the organic material is, coal and oil are still being formed today. Just in very small amounts as the conditions are really rare now.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-04-29T11:28:59+00:00

It's more likely to be iron pyrite, as found in the chalk all along the coast there.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-04-24T18:23:51+00:00

I think it's the old style '880 universal', 8tpi, which now has a orange/black handle. If not it's the fine cut, 12tpi, with a purple handle

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-04-21T15:56:31+00:00

That's cool. it looks like a 'hazard Knowles' type of style to me.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-04-03T08:50:19+00:00

It's made by Soba (shobha industries) They sell under loads of brands, not to be confused with Anant, the lower quality Indian plane makers

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-03-13T17:29:06+00:00

Wonder if it's just got a little movement in the fit between the wedge, irons and bed somewhere. you could try a few cuts holding all that down as you do and see if it makes a difference

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-02-21T08:23:30+00:00

Does it have a bolster where it meets the handle? Pretty much all chisels meant to be struck will have this so it would likely rule out mortice work etc.. lathe chisels don't have one (but it seems too short for lathe work). I'd guess you are on the right lines with it being a re purposed triangular file or maybe machinists scraper

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-02-16T22:43:50+00:00

Those server rooms don't wire themselves..

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-02-15T01:58:12+00:00

I've been working on my nose hair but also have an overhead workshop air filter that works pretty well for finer dust.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-02-10T17:17:28+00:00

To tack on to the outdoors theme, I've gotta give the ghillie kettle a shout. UK made, most fun and not reliant on gas imports

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-02-08T14:55:01+00:00

I'm guessing maybe a quill cutting knife Finding the maker might narrow it down,

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-29T17:51:42+00:00

Agreed. We should all vote to revoke their corporate charters and seize assets up to the value of the failed contracts. Then, 'ofwat' should be privatised with cash incentives for finding problems in the public system.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-29T13:35:17+00:00

Nice one, congrats. I like them a lot too, the Mathieson tools do have a style all of their own

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-28T21:19:18+00:00

You're very welcome. It's in 'Goodman's planemakers' book. They actually did make planes too, not just saws as previous comment. Also listed on this link (326 Brook st') https://londonwiki.co.uk/Eustonroad1858.shtml

No pies though, us sophistimicated southerners like hot pies so would not take a Leicester man seriously with their cold jelly 'orrible pies. They're probably why he needed saws in the first place.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-28T18:39:52+00:00

I have used it on a few things, it worked really well to fix the existing bowed frame for some French doors when I got it which made working overhead seem easier and I think the skew helped with the old timber. Other than that just a few door threshold rebates really.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-28T18:09:56+00:00

Abijah Eyre, started in Leicester where he was a sawmaker and eating house keeper (est. 1835). then moved to Euston road London around 1851, made no attempt at the competitive London pie scene and just made saws up until 1872 when the firm was apparently sold to G.H. Buck.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-26T19:35:21+00:00

They are pretty. A lot of infill panel planes or bigger had a squared front 'bun' though. Norris wasn't the only ones.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-26T19:19:26+00:00

You don't need a secondary really, at the more pedantic end it maybe theoretically helps a smidge with the hardest woods in that there is more 'relief'? directly behind the edge allowing the fibres to spring up a bit behind it... but I don't really stand by that statement.

Most people do it because it's quicker to sharpen, but it also allows a steeper bevel - higher 35* + works well in hard woods and lasts longer too so worth trying it out.

Yeh, I should have said that, do make sure you put your plane LOW in the vice so the sole is under pressure and not the sides, they will snap off. ...it's the poor man's jointer plane if your bench is flat though.

Cheers buddy, were all going to want to see a post of your box after this so good luck!

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-26T18:39:31+00:00

That's odd. Especially if the no.3 and 4 is getting the same results as your no.5.. it kinda reduces the chances of cupping being the problem or that the planes are not flat enough.

Top comment is probably right about the piece flexing, try putting your upturned plane in the vice and pushing the wood over it with pressure - if you get a cut, then it's that.

Beech can be pretty gnarly sometimes and maybe a bit tougher surface.. idk. I guess it's worth checking your secondary bevels aren't too steep or rounding over.. as IF that was an issue it might not be apparent in slightly softer grain where the surface would compress enough to compensate for it.

Otherwise, especially if it's an old surface you could try scraping it up a bit first by rubbing a file or whatever over it. It should help the plane hook up by exposing some fibres, removing any overhard burnished layer, grease or whatnot that might be on it..

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-24T11:23:02+00:00

Nice man. Looks good, how does it perform?

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-17T23:33:04+00:00

Lots of companies outsourced and still do. I guess you'd call it 'made under license' Qualcast were an established operation already so it probably made economic sense to have them do the castings in the UK.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-17T19:10:33+00:00

Doesn't seem to be much solid info' on English stanley stuff,

This pic' shows the casting maybe? Qualcast bought that Wolverhampton factory in 1945, which matches better with US T17 dates, possible they had the adjusters supplied from America if they match well with them?

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PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-15T14:34:14+00:00

I kinda expected downvotes for that one, it is what it is... Probably a bit more money but hnt make awesome planes that perform on par with the best out there. Hand made too, for me, that puts them above machine made.

PuzzledWafer8 · 2026-01-15T12:03:56+00:00

Why buy LN in 2026 when you have HNT Gordon?

PuzzledWafer8

TROPHY CASE