Picture of woodworking hand tools by Melbourne Tool Company - a small router plane, a low-angle block plane, a low-angle jack plane, a low-angle smoothing plane, a flat spokeshave, and a round spokeshave

VTW Would Like to Introduce You to the New Kid on the Block

  • Woodworking Hand tools by Melbourne Tool Company. Their bench planes are the low-angle block plane, low-angle jack plane, and low-angle smoothing plane.

    Accurate

  • Flat and round spokeshaves, and a small router plane by Melbourne Tool Company

    Accessible

  • Woodworking hand tools by Melbourne Tool Company, a small router plane, spokeshave, and some of the bench planes

    Simple

Picture of Vic Tesolin in his shop, at his workbench, holding a hand plane by Melbourne Tool Company

“These tools fill the longstanding gap in the North American hand tool market. For years we’ve only had the choice of premium tools, poorly made tools, or restoring old tools. Woodworkers need something that is affordable, easy to use, and most importantly performs well. I am proud and excited to use and help spread the word about Melbourne Tool Company

Vic Tesolin

A little VTW story…

For years, Vic heard many people say things like:

  • “I can’t get into woodworking, I don’t have a large enough space”

  • “I can’t woodwork, I don’t have all the gear”

  • “I can’t woodwork, I live in an apartment and can’t make noise or a lot of mess”

To try and address these perceptions and barriers, Vic wrote The Minimalist Woodworker books. Books to educate, inspire, and show people that it is very possible to woodwork and make great things with minimal space, tools, noise, and mess.

But, the basis of these books is hand tool woodworking… which means people need access to quality affordable hand tools, and that isn’t necessarily possible in North America.

A few years ago the answer that Vic has been looking for came a knocking… well more like emails and some video chats with his Aussie mates at Timbecon. They had an idea. They wanted to create a new brand of hand tools.

Something modern yet traditional, simple yet performs well, made to high standards yet affordable. A brand called Melbourne Tool Company (MTC). Click here to check out the MTC website, read their story and order tools.

Vic was interested in these tools, but skeptical. He needed to try them out and see if MTC tools were up to his standards and were something he would use and stand behind.

Picture of the Melbourne Tool Company low-angle block plane being used on Vic Tesolin's workbench
Photo of Vic Tesolin and the tool designer for Melbourne Tool Company. This picture was taken at Timbecon in Melbourne where Vic tested some new Melbourne Tool Company woodworking hand tools

Vic spent time with MTC prototypes in his shop and in Melbourne, working with designers, testing the tools, and giving his feedback.

The End Result?

A VTW - MTC Partnership!

MTC tools pass the Vic test!

Not only was it about the great performance and quality of the tools, but it was also about the people and values of MTC (and it’s parent company Timbecon).

Values like accessibility, affordability, accuracy, inclusivity, simplicity, high standards, and more.

Both VTW and MTC respect and honour past woodworking traditions while adapting to today and more modern practices.

Picture of woodworking hand tools by Melbourne Tool Company - a small router plane, a low-angle block plane, a low-angle jack plane, a low-angle smoothing plane, a flat spokeshave, and a round spokeshave

So what does this all mean?

VTW is still VTW. You’ll keep seeing Vic woodworking and using all sorts of tools in his shop. You will also see Vic promoting MTC tools, creating content for MTC, and collaboration between VTW and MTC on various platforms. We will always disclose this paid partnership.

We will always be transparent about collaborations so that you know you can continue looking to Vic for honest tool reviews, recommendations, and woodworking advice.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Melbourne Tool Company artwork with a graffiti ally and the words Check In To a New Kind of Tool Company

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