My Wooden plane has finally been completed so I am gloating…
I have a very few of really good planes (send me the ones you don’t use!)
And I cant afford the really nice ones allot So I bought a book —“Making and Mastering Wood Planes” by David Finck. When I bought the book I ordered a Blade and chip breaker from his online store..
I got it about 90% done and couldn’t make the tiny pin to my satisfaction (I Saved up and bought a lathe and it took me like 1.5 minutes to make it!)…
Anyway this is an Osage Orange First attempt at making one. It started its life as a 12/4×14” Bit of Fire wood and after truing it up and then following the book it turned out a very finely adjustable wonderful end as you see it.. I did the finish in BLO and then 3 coats of shelac. To keep a better grip I didn’t sand the top at all and the osage is so hard it really is smooth anyway.. the bottom I sanded on 400 between coats and then finished it like I would a tabletop.. It is rubbed out French polished and like glass. (have no clue if this was right or not… but my Iron ones are taht way and they work!)
A 11 1/2 x 3 3/4” Smoothing Plane… that cuts really well!
I was so happy to try this and as long as I keep they same dimensions I can make as many planes as I need using the same Irons… So Next up is a Jack plane (if I can find the wood!) If not maybe I buy it..
Cheers
Rich
Replies
You are allowed....
Great looking plane. You are allowed to gloat a little, especially since it works well.
Krenov would be proud!
Rich:
Really nice, hard to believe this is your first attempt. I'm sure you have already figured out you can make these any size and any style your heart desires. They're like potato chips, you can't stop with just one.
gdblake
gloat away- you earned the right to- that plane looks really nice. Does it work as well as it looks? I bought that same book recently and plan to make my first plane as soon as I finish a dining room set (table + 10 chairs)
Jeff
Rich,
As everyone has said, "Beautiful plane".
So you French polished the sole! I was thinking (and when I do this, danger is always involved), what about the use of Ultra "High Molecular Weight (UHMW) plastic" for the base of the plane. YOu would never have to wax it. If while pushing it, it slipped out of your hands, it would keep moving until it hit a barrier and then it might continue for days.
Anyway, tool makers are tinkerers and need to try new things, so try some UHMW for the sole of your next plane.
Also, you can't believe everything you read in Knots. :-)
Keep making tools.
Mel
captain clark,
must agree with mr. blake. that is amazing for the 1st time! the last few months has seen me gathering the various plane making tools and in a few weeks i'll be following your and gd's lead through finck's book...
very, very encouraging. thanks.
eef
great plane!
I also bought the same book and iron from David (very nice guy by the way) and will also attempt the smoothing plane as per his book. How crucial/easy is it to use a jointer to square up the plane body described in his book? I have an old Craftsman rusty jointer tthat is sketchy at best! Let me know.
Mark
Depends on how good your jointer is
Mark:
Squaring up a plane blank is very important. Doing it with accuracy depends on the tools you have. If it works well, you can certainly use your jointer. However, a jointer is only safe and accurate with longer pieces of wood, say 16" or more. Having made several planes my preferred method is to just square them up on my tablesaw with a Forrest Woodworker II blade. It gives me extremely accurate, clean, square cuts. Any tweaking, which is rarely needed, is done with a low angle block plane. I also use the tablesaw to make the angled cuts for the ramp and toe piece. Just set your miter gauge to the correct angle, clamp the stock to the miter gauge to avoid it shifting during the cut, and have at it. Far less setup and work than other approaches to making these cuts.
gdblake
Hi Rich,
Very, very nice job. It looks like it is put together very nicely; minimal clearance side to side for the wedge and iron; pin nice and snug, etc. I'm sure you will be very pleased with it's performance.
2 questions I have if you would'nt mind;
Where did you get the Orange Osage? I have been wanting to make a plane out of it but can't seem to find it readily available on the internet. I am sure I am not looking for it in the right way.
Did you put a sole on the bottom after the glue up? Just my own curisoty.
Thanks for the picture and again, well done.
Perry
Answers
I got the Osage at the Woodcraft Store in ClearWater Fla. I suspect the all get it from the same place as I also saw it at the store that usto be near me in Sarasota. I would try them or perhaps wood turning supply houses (it was found in the woodturning area & they did have quite a few pieces of it).
The sole of the plane is just the Osage from the blank (you cut the sides off, form the ramps and glue them back up.)
I was able to make the Wedge and the Pin from the cut off resulting from cuting the ramps.
Hope this helps
Rich
( I need to make a hammer to adjust it with.. Im using a block of white oak at the moment.)
Thanks for the feedback Rich; I will check out Woodcraft locally and see what they have. Now that you are and expert at this plane making thing; you should make a round bottom one.
It is a great learning project as it is the same only different.
Have fun with your sweet looking new plane.
Perry
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled