Replies

1. 
   MBerger | Jul 13, 2007 08:27pm | #1

   Anyone, anyone? Just trying to keep this post fresh on everyone's screen.

1. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Jul 13, 2007 11:34pm | #2

   Hi Matt,Phil Lowe has a great series of videos on the Peabody museum site. I'm a tradesman, and these videos earnt him my respect.Below are my thoughts - what does everybody else want to know about handplanes??????????????????????Here's a few discussion starters that may get things started.Handplanes - how do you use a handplane?(pretend the board is about 2' longer than it really is - balance - pressure on plane during cut - most importantly, showing how to hold a plane so that it keeps square on the board.)How do you joint a very long edge (say, 8') - how to walk while planing.How to freehand sharpen a plane iron(or, how does he sharpen?)Various type of honing (radiused, crowned, straight blade) vs plane type.How to sharpen and use a scraper.Now, Phil Lowe's video on the peabody site showed how to cut a bellflower inlay in a leg - if you're padding things out, you could cover veneer work.Cheers,
   eddie

1. 
   Gene | Jul 13, 2007 11:47pm | #3

   All,Here's the link to the videos at the Peabody....http://www.pem.org/luxury/furniture.html

   Edited 7/13/2007 4:48 pm ET by Gene

2. 
   smslaw | Jul 14, 2007 04:49pm | #4

   He might show a variety of planes, say what each is best used for and then demonstrate.  Plane novices like me are bewildered by the choices. 

   How do you take a rough board and make it a smooth one?

   How do you sharpen a plane?

   How do you joint an edge?

   How do you avoid tearout?

   Bevel up or down-what is the difference?

   Bevel angles?

    

3. 
   dave7085 | Jul 14, 2007 10:28pm | #6

    Matt,

   A few question for Phil:

   How do you sharpen a scrub plane blade?

   How do you sharpen a curved (concave) spokeshave?   Also, how do you tune up a curved spokeshave, including "flattening" the sole?  I have an inexpensive Kunz that has very rough mill marks on the sole.

   Dave

1. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Jul 15, 2007 04:11pm | #7

   Just a friendly nudge to keep this up top for Matt Berger.If 'next week' meant Monday, he could be checking in tomorrow.
   .
   '
   ******************************************************************
   Anybody got anything else that they would like to know about hand tools/planes/other tools from Phil Lowe??
   ******************************************************************
   .
   .Cheers,

1. 
   EdHarrison | Jul 16, 2007 09:28pm | #8

   Questions:
   1) Do you make any of your own wooden molding planes?
   2) Do you have certain makers, historical areas, or geographical areas that planes were made in, that you recommend?
   3) Any books or videos on wooden plane usage that you specifically recommend?
   4) Sources for folks building up a collection of working wooden molding planes, other than tyrannosaurus ebay?
   5) Thoughts on differences between wooden molding planes designed for architectural moldings in softwood v. those designed for furniture and cabinet work in hardwoods.
   6) If a dedicated hobbiest were building up a collection of hollows and rounds, would you recommend taking the extra time and effort to acquire planes with skewed irons?
   7) Sharpening techniques for molding plane irons? Slipstones? Hand grinders? ELectrical grinders? Sandpaper glued to wooden shapes?And of course, although the focus subject is handplanes, I'd be interested in techniques and exercises used to teach students carving techniques for period furniture work.
   Edit: Email set to the aboveEdited 7/16/2007 2:29 pm by EdHarrison

   Edited 7/16/2007 2:33 pm by EdHarrison

2. 
   Lataxe | Jul 14, 2007 07:21pm | #5

   Matt,

   My email's on the blink so I type some questions here rather than in a mail to Taunton.

   *  Have modern bevel-up planes, with their simpler but more reconfigrable design, made the more complex, fixed-angle frog and cap-iron bevel-down planes redundant? Or do BD planes still offer something that BU planes don't?  (if so, what is it)?

   *  Are we ever likely to see a well-made dado, plough or combination plane from the modern makers of high quality planes, such as LN and LV? Or has the speed of the router made such potential planes, however well-made, redundant in the modern market?

   * Setting aside collectability and good-looks, do high-end planes from individual makers offer anything that a good quality mass produced plane (eg LN or LV) does not?

   What are the respective advantages and disadvantages of wooden and metal planes?  What kind of work or technique is best dealt with by one rather than the other?

   Lataxe

3. 
   MBerger | Jul 16, 2007 09:39pm | #9

   Thanks for the weekend brainstorm session, everyone. These are great topics and we will surely be able to make the best of of our visit later this week.

   Cheers,
   Matt Berger 
   Fine Woodworking

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Jul 17, 2007 06:32am | #10

   MB, the care and feeding of shaped or skewed cutters ie. #140, 45,55 or 289.            Will you ever do a REAL instruction for the 45's/ 55's in technique and applications not the usual 2 page list of parts and cutters but 4 to 5 pages of what can be done. A lot of us use them for heritage type pieces not for shop things. Thanks, Paddy

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 17, 2007 02:17pm | #11

   Paddy,

   Yes indeed! 

   I spent hours reviving the cutters for my #45, not an easy task.  I finally devised a fixture from a block of wood with a magnet set in a mortise to grab the cutters so I could hone them. 

   It looks very much like a push block with a 1/8" heel on one end and the magnet mortised into the bed, if you will.  Works good with #78 blades too.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   Ron01960 | Jul 17, 2007 02:37pm | #12

   I can drop off my box of planes for the program, In case Phil needs to practice. I live 5 miles away?Ron

2. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Sep 02, 2007 02:35pm | #14

   Hi Matt,I know you took on the new role soon after you shot this video with Phil Lowe.Did it end up making it onto Knots?CHeers,eddie

1. 
   MBerger | Sep 02, 2007 02:54pm | #15

   Hey Eddie.Another one of the editors went on this video shoot and it is scheduled to be published sometime in September. Keep on the look out.- Matt

4. 
   flairwoodworks | Jul 18, 2007 05:13am | #13

   One (simple) question:

   Is a chipbreaker really necessary if your iron is 1/8" or thicker?  Does the chipbreaker actually break the chips (prevent tearout) or just prevent the blade from chattering?  Low-angle planes do not have chipbreakers and work just as well.

   Chris @ flairwoodworks