Replies

1. 
   RickL | May 14, 2005 11:09pm | #1

   Go to the handtool forum on http://www.woodcentral.com Plenty of archived info on the subject and Shepard hangs out there.

2. 
   kenshep | May 18, 2005 08:51pm | #2

   Just to make sure you find what you are looking for, its Shepherd.

   http://www.shepherdtool.com/

   I spelled it wrong 'til third grade....

   ;-)

    

   Regards,

   Ken

   "Do as you would be done by." C.S. Lewis

3. 
   CajunDan | Jun 03, 2005 12:47am | #3

   I am building a Shepherd Spiers smoother kit now.  It is finished except for lapping the sole and fine-tuning.

   The lows: The cocobolo infills were chipped, and the pre-drilled throat plate holes did not line up with the sole. The illustrations on the photocopied instructions were illegible. Plan dimensions are all decimal inches.

   The highs: The parts were well packaged. The blade and chip breaker was VERY heavy, and the blade was flat. The cap iron was a beautifully milled work of art. The cocobolo inserts were matched for grain and color. After assembly, only one of the chips is visible on the finished plane. Shepherd customer service is first-rate.

   Building the thing was easier than I expected. I spent more time making the buck block than peening on it. DO NOT build your buck block to the plan dimensions. Instead, make sure it is the same thickness as your inserts, whatever that happens to be; otherwise your sides will not be parallel. Do not over file your dovetails.

   The end product is a very heavy piece. My throat is pretty tight and the 3/16" blade is chatter-proof. It is by far the prettiest plane I own, and if it works as well as I think it will, it is money well spent.

1. 
   WillGraham | Jul 03, 2005 03:45pm | #4

   2 Saturdays ago I dropped my wife in <!----><!----><!---->Elmira<!----><!----> (a small village 3 miles from Fergus that specializes in tourist shopping and antiques) while I visited Shepherd Tools.  The guys where great, showed me what I needed to get started. I purchased the 1 1/2 Shoulder plane. During following week I did the filing. Altogether it took me about 3 hours. I returned yesterday to the store and finished the plane (I do not have an anvil plate yet). The peining was the part I was worried about, but it was simpler then expected. I used their belt sander to flatten the sole and sides.  This generates lots of heat and takes time for cooling.<!----><!---->

   I finished filing the throat and bed at home.  By <!---->8 pm<!----> shaved the finniest curl of walnut that I have seen.<!---->

   I also have to spend some time polishing up and finishing the plane, but when done I will tack a digital photo and post I here. <!---->

   Will<!---->

    

1. 
   CajunDan | Jul 03, 2005 05:41pm | #5

   Hi, Under

   I am glad to hear it came out well. I was thinking about ordering the shoulder next.

   I could not find anything to use as an anvil plate, so after pricing anvils and large metal vises; I went to Wal-Mart and bought a 20# barbell weight. It worked fine!

   Did you have any problems keeping your sides at 90 degrees?

1. 
   WillGraham | Jul 04, 2005 03:36am | #6

   I got a photo now. Still needs cosmetic work but I am very happy with performance.  The light color curls from maple across the grain.

   Will 

   
2. 
   WillGraham | Jul 04, 2005 03:59am | #7

   Was the bar bell weight flat? It sounds so easy.

   Getting the sides to 90.  Ben coached on this. With the shoulder plane you do not use a buck block but the infills. This actually helps get the plane to very close to square.  After you have peined the dovetailed, you clamp the front infill tight to the sole. Then drill the holes for the cross pins half way through from both sides. Ream them out to produce a small champer. Insert the pins a pein them. Use a washer spacer. After the peining release the clamps.  I was very close to perfect right angles.  The final part was when I used a belt sander. Do the sole first and use it as a base line for getting the sides to 90.this gets it a close as you want.

   Their manuals could use more explicit instructions with lots of photos (good ones).  I'am not that sure that they understand the value putting out a good manual.  The parts of the kit are important, put the real value comes from the manual.

   Will

    

1. 
   CajunDan | Jul 04, 2005 05:40am | #8

   Beautiful, Under. Those shavings are impressive. I will try to post pics of mine, soon.

   Regards,

   Dan

2. 
   WillGraham | Jul 05, 2005 01:00am | #9

   Thanks for the Wal Mart tip. I dropped in and agree that the 25 Lb. weight is a great anvil plate.