Replies

1. 
   gb93433 | Feb 14, 2006 06:24pm | #1

   Initially grind the plane iron to the radius you want and then when you make the plane hold the iron at the ramp angle and mark it with a pencil to get the right curve on the bottom of the plane. What I do once the plnae is made, is to put the iron slightly below the bottom of the plane and run it across some fine sandpaper to get the end of the iron to match the curve of the iron. Pull the iron out and then sharpen it.

1. 
   ak | Feb 14, 2006 09:02pm | #2

   Well, I'll be using a curved iron, Hock to be exact. So, I should match the botom with the blade radius. For some reson I thought the bottom radius should be a fraction larger han the blade. Don't ask where I got that. I'm not sure. What about the mouth opening? What is the best way to make it match the blade?

1. 
   gb93433 | Feb 14, 2006 10:04pm | #3

   The radius of the bottom of the hand plane will be different than the radius of the plane iron because the iron will held at an angle most likely of 45 degrees or whatever your ramp angle is. If you use a thick sole such as about 1/4" it will make things much easier. When I file out the mouth opening I use a file close to the same thickness as the plane iron and use the file at the same angle of the ramp.

   Edited 2/14/2006 2:06 pm by gb93433

1. 
   ak | Feb 15, 2006 08:59pm | #4

   I see. Thinking of it, I see how the angle should be the same as when the plane is in the plane. Makes sense. You'll have to forgive my ignorance, here, but I'm still not clear on the mouth. Is it filled straight or curved with the blade? I would think it's profiled to the blade.

1. 
   highfigh | Feb 15, 2006 10:53pm | #5

   If the back of the iron is flat, the mouth should be flat. The iron needs support across its width and along at least the lower half of its length. If you look along the iron, it'll look flat. If you look into the sole at a right angle, it'll appear curved.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

2. 
   QCInspector | Feb 15, 2006 11:10pm | #6

   A long time ago my father made a small spoon plane for making....spoons.His plane had a small handle / knob at one end inline with the long axis of the plane. Best I can do to illustrate is.... (*/)=0 ... I believe he turned it on a lathe from a branch off a fruit tree. Cut the unnecessary from the top and sides. Cut the sides off. Removed a "V" from the core that remained. Glued the sides back on, and put in a pin centered in the "V" for the wedge to bear against. The blade (an old file I think) could be put into the plane from front or back with the same wedge. This allowed the choice of pulling or pushing in use.The mouth by virtue of having two beds for the blade coming through the spoon sole was ")(" shaped when looked at from the sole side. The shavings didn't know that the mouth wasn't a Krenovian perfect slit, and happily gave way to the blade. The opening is important only to long grain cutting, not the short grain encountered in the bowl of a spoon. Your intended use may be different so the mouth may end up "((" shaped.

3. 
   gb93433 | Feb 15, 2006 11:20pm | #7

   If you file the opening at the same angle of the ramp or the angle that the plane iron will be held at, the opening will be just right. The opening will apear to be an arc because the plane bottom is round.

4. 
   ak | Feb 17, 2006 06:48pm | #8

   Thank you all. You guys have been very helpful. I think I know my plan of attck now. Thanks again!!!!

    

   Adam

   http://www.freewebs.com/akfurniture/

2. 
   gdblake | Feb 18, 2006 04:25am | #9

   Ron Hock has plans for a round bottom plane on his website.  It might help you work out the details on a spoon plane.  Here is the link.

   http://www.hocktools.com/products.htm