Replies

1. 
   SCFrankland | Jul 08, 2003 08:17pm | #1

   I have made one molding plane and it worked out all right.  What I did was make a scraper to scrap the sole of my plane to the desired shape. 

   I start by designing my profile but in your case just copy the one you need to reproduce.  I take a 6" long sample of the molding and use the sample as a template to etch out the design on a .032" thick hand scraper.  In my case I tend to hold my scrapers at a slight angle (this angle is different for every user so figure out what is comfortable for you and stick with it),   so I use an angle gauge to figure out what that angle is and cut the end of the sample molding with a corresponding angle also.  I then use the end that I just cut as a template for etching the scraper as this will then give me the correct shape for the finished sole after I have scraped it.

   The way molding planes used to be made was you would make a hand plane that had the mirror design of the desired sole.  You would then use this plane to plane the the finished planes sole.  This method is great if you are doing a run of planes with the same desired sole but not worth the time if you are only doing a one off.  The scraper is the easiest method to follow.

   Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

   
1. 
   derekb | Jul 08, 2003 10:01pm | #2

   Thanks for the tips.  I have just finished my scratch stock and I am trying it on a scrap piece of Fir to see how it works.  I just need a few tips on how to make my plane body now.  What type of wood to use?  That sort of thing. What degree should the iron be set at?   45?   I need to make a plane because I need somewhere around the 80 foot mark of this particular molding.

   Derek

1. 
   SCFrankland | Jul 08, 2003 11:16pm | #3

   Any hardwood that is stable would be a good choice.  I use beech and maple most of the time but I do have several planes from Steve Knight and they are purpleheart and padouk.  The bed angle depends on the wood being used for the moulding.  For softwoods go with an angle around 45deg and hardwoods 45-50deg.   Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

2. 
   JeffKurtz | Jul 09, 2003 02:56am | #4

   Derek,

   There are several pages on the net describing the process of making moulding planes in some detail.   Here's one:

   http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/handtools.pl/noframes/read/3038

   Jeff

1. 
   derekb | Jul 10, 2003 09:49pm | #5

   does anyone have tips or links to a site to make a plane with a 2 1/8"  sole.  It is probably the same for every plane but it would be easier to go off of if I had the destructions in front of me.

   derek