We created Melbourne Tool Company (MTC) to fill a gap that had quietly emerged in the woodworking world: the gap between the bargain-bin tools and the premium brands. We wanted to design hand tools that performed brilliantly out of the box, but at a price that made sense for the real woodworker.
MTC is the product of many years' worth of insights we gained through running Timbecon, one of Australia’s leading woodworking retailers. In 2019, we had hit a wall. There was simply no good option for woodworkers looking for hand planes that were both well-made and reasonably priced. The market had bifurcated: on one side were high-end tools commanding premium prices, and on the other, disposable-grade options that left users frustrated. That disconnect gave us our reason to exist.
We decided to start from scratch. Our first designer, Alexsandra Pontonio, is an industrial designer and practicing furniture maker in Melbourne. Working closely with Hague Haswell, Timbecon’s Managing Director, the two of them argued (in the best possible way) over every curve, handle, and detail. Those debates—between Alex’s compact, precise approach and Hague’s longer-limbed perspective—shaped the first two planes.
When COVID lockdowns slowed progress, we brought development in-house. That’s when Rohan Bevan joined the team. As a trained designer with woodworking experience and a fresh perspective, he helped refine and expand the range.
The tools were shaped by real-world use. The feedback loop was constant. Every design decision—handle curvature, mass, grip texture—was tested in actual workshops. Our design process focused heavily on ergonomics, not just on aesthetics. For example, the spokeshaves include cast handles with ribbing hidden beneath cork inlays for grip and comfort, especially in hot or humid conditions. It's a small detail, but one that matters when you're working for hours.
We also paid attention to performance in tough materials. Being an Australian company, we knew the tools had to thrive in hard, fibrous local timbers. M2 high-speed steel blades were chosen for their edge retention. They might not sharpen as easily as O1, but in Australian hardwoods—and, frankly, most North American timbers too—they stay sharp much longer. And that means less time sharpening and more time building.
Nowhere is this pragmatic philosophy clearer than in our router planes. Rather than follow the traditional “granny tooth” L-shaped blade design, which is notoriously hard to sharpen and prone to chatter, we used a straight-blade system set at 55 degrees. That angle might seem steep at first glance, but it performs beautifully across the grain—particularly in challenging timbers. The blade is supported right to the edge, reducing vibration and producing cleaner results. Add to that a reversible fence, tool-less adjustments, and solid mass behind the cutter, and it’s clear these are tools made to work.
We believe that design isn’t just how something looks—it’s how it performs. That’s why we worked with a manufacturing partner in China that shares our obsession with precision. This isn’t mass production for its own sake. Our partner is a family-run factory with a background in making high-tolerance machine tooling. They understand flat, square, and sharp. Every tool is made to spec, with QC guided by someone who—literally—walks the floor checking every stage.
There’s a narrative that anything made in China is suspect. We don’t buy it. What matters is the relationship, the standards, and the accountability. We invested heavily in upfront design, testing, and oversight. If something needed to be better, we didn’t compromise—we made it better. We didn’t cut corners. And our customers have noticed.
What we hear, over and over, is that our tools are surprising—in the best way. Woodworkers pick an MTC tool up expecting “good enough”, and instead they find “great.” That moment of pleasant surprise has become a kind of hallmark. As Vic Tesolin, a respected hand tool expert and brand ambassador for MTC, put it: "They're not crap!" That may sound like faint praise, but it’s really a huge compliment in a world where so many tools look the part but fail in practice.
From a pricing standpoint, we’ve been intentional. Our tools aren’t cheap, but they aren’t inaccessible either. They land in that sweet spot—affordable for most serious makers, durable enough to last decades, and ready to work out of the box. You won’t need a course in plane fettling to get started. You’ll hone the blade, and then get to work.
Today, the MTC lineup is comprised of nine tools – and we’re not in a rush to hit double digits. Our goal has always been to offer only the tools that will get the job done for the majority of woodworkers in the 21st century. We firmly believe that woodworking should be accessible. That means designing tools that respect your time, your budget, and your skill. MTC isn’t about nostalgia or prestige—it’s about practicality, performance, and the simple satisfaction of using something that works well.
So whether you're building cabinets, shaping a guitar neck, or just trying to fix a sticky door, our goal is to provide tools that help you do your best work—without frustration, without fuss.
Melbourne Tool Company. Honest tools for real work.