Replies

1. 
   lwilliams | Jan 16, 2004 05:06am | #1

   Do you want them with the wedge in backwards like the one in the photo?  :)

   It looks like maybe an Auburn or Sandusky plane about the size I'd call a #14 round. (cuts about 1/6th of a circle at about a 1" radius) By Sandusky's numbering system it'd be a #8 and Auburn would have called it a #14 because they followed the British numbering system.

2. 
   WendellW | Jan 16, 2004 06:55am | #2

   Here's a couple sites with some good plane building info.

   Scott's Woodworking Page

   and

   Woodworking - In the Woodshop .

   A very good book is "Making Traditional Wooden Planes" by John M. Whelan. There is a video called "Classic Plane Making:

   Hollows & Rounds with Tod Herrli" which i've heard is good.

   I have occassionally run across a good deal from a dealer on the net but it takes some searching.

   Wendell

3. 
   10fingers | Jan 16, 2004 07:33am | #3

   Check out ebay under handplanes.   I have bought several wood planes lately for the average price of $15.00.   You can see some neat planes.  I have my computer set up to use a group of photos as a screensaver.   They come up for about 15 seconds.   I have about 50 different photos of planes on there.   Some I will never get unless I will the lotto.

4. 
   dirtstirrer | Jan 16, 2004 08:09am | #4

   Hey Gecko, check this site out:

   http://www.planemaker.com/

   Look at the names of the plane makers, then check out post #2.  Knots is great.

   I've got a book entitled "Making Traditional Wooden Planes" by John Whelan, that you might find interesting.  Bought mine on Ebay.  It's published by the Astragal Press.

   Ebay is great for bargins.  I've got about 20 old wood planes off there in the last few years.  As long as your not bidding on a collecter item, planes are usually cheap.  Some turn out to be junk, but some are gems.  Look at the photos well, and don't buy something no one else will bid on. 

   aka Steve
5. 
   lwilliams | Jan 16, 2004 08:37am | #5

   The best information on making planes that I know of was published in the magazine Work, The Illustrated Journal for Mechanics In a series of articles by 19th Century planemaker W.J. Armour in 1898. I don't know if you'll have much luck finding the issues. As luck would have it Ken Roberts reprinted the articles in Wooden Planes in 19th Century America, Vol II. This book is out of print but there are still copies available from a few antique tool dealers. Phil Whitby still had some last September but I don't know about now.

   For some information you won't find anywhere else, we have an article on molding plane design on our web site at http://www.planemaker.com/articles/moldingplane.html

1. 
   gecko | Jan 16, 2004 05:33pm | #6

   Thanks a million guys! the links are a great help! I often do check out ebay for some nice ones but haven't actually bought any yet. About a year ago I was in a salvation army store and found a full set of moulding planes for $1.00 each. Some were not in usable condition but to make a long story short I kick myself often for not snapping them up.

   Custom Cabinetry and Furniture

   http://www.BartlettWoodworking.com

    

1. 
   Gretchen | Jan 21, 2004 09:34pm | #22

   I see them at our antique flea market all the time. Have bought a few for my SIL that are  a bit more intricate than what you showed. Gretchen

6. 
   metryman | Jan 16, 2004 10:23pm | #7

   what you have pictured is I believe a hollow (May have that terminology reversed according to who you talk to) from a set of hollows and rounds. The only one making them new is a company  I believe is located in Arkansas which makes a set for about $ 1600.00. not cheap. If you can wait long enough you can pick them up as singles but it takes awhile. If you cant wait, contact me. I have two sets and may be talked out of one at a reasonable price

1. 
   gecko | Jan 17, 2004 12:11am | #9

   thanks John6, I think the company you are referring to is Clark and Williams. I would be interested to know what your willing to part with them for.

   I am very interested in making my own as I need them. I do some antique reproduction work for clients that require some hard to find profiles, so if I could make a plane each time I need it I will eventually have quite a collection.

   Lostarrow- I managed to find that site you were pointing at- the link wouldn't work but I think I got it.

   http://www.crfinefurniture.com/1pages/sitelinks/howplane.html

   Custom Cabinetry and Furniture

   http://www.BartlettWoodworking.com

    

1. 
   metryman | Jan 17, 2004 01:23am | #10

   will unpack them over the weekend and try to get back to you on Monday with a price. I have and use several old wooden planes and moulding planes. Just like the way wood on wood feels

2. 
   metryman | Jan 20, 2004 07:41pm | #16

   Unpacked the set I had put away and there are 18 in the set.( actually what's known as a half set) 9 hollows and 9 matching rounds from about 1/8 inch on up in even increments. Most are Scottish from Matheson and all are in very nice shape. I would like to get $450.00 for them. Email me back and let me know if you're interested. I could possibly take digital pics and email you.

1. 
   BarryVaBeach | Jan 20, 2004 09:45pm | #17

   Gecko, if you are interested in making Hollows and Rounds, the best info is in Todd Herrli's video mentioned earlier.  In addition there is a great website that lays out the step by step plans for making a similar ovolo  molding plane  http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/Thumbnail_Making/start.html

   Using the Herrli video and the web page reference above I made one pair of hollow and rounds.  While it wasn't that tough, it was fairly time consuming so I chickened out and bought a half set. ( 18 planes) Tony Murland usually has a few half sets in stock http://www.uktoolshop.com  as do other dealers.  Price varies depending on whether the set is all from one maker and was owned by one individual ( the most expensive), all from one maker but owned by different people ( you can tell from the owners stamps) the cheapest  set is sometimes called a harlequin - different planes from different makers. Also, I think that skew H&R planes are slightly more expensive than plain H&R, though I read that the skews are a little harder to keep straight.  Of course, it may be even cheaper to pick up a partial set and then make the rest yourself.  Most of the times on ebay you see singles, or one or two pairs.  If your goal is to end up with a complete half set  expect to spend quite some time in bidding.   Plus, make sure you find out the width of the iron, the # of the plane varied some from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even the same co. used different numbering systems over time so a #6 hollow won't necessarily be the twin of a #6 round even if it was the same manufacturer.

1. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Jan 20, 2004 10:38pm | #18

   gecko,

   This is a good link, but just remember that Scott Post is left-handed, so you'll need to reverse the pattern.

   eddie

2. 
   BarryVaBeach | Jan 21, 2004 02:01am | #19

   Eddie,  I didn't realize he was left handed. That may explain why the one's I built have an escapement on the " wrong " side - though it hasn't caused me any problems - other than the shavings go on the bench not the floor.

3. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Jan 21, 2004 07:17am | #20

   re:  right vs left vs correct vs wrong side - here's a picture.

   http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/ogee_plane.html this is a right handed plane

   It sounds as though you cut them correctly - you want the shavings to fall out on the other side of the plane to your body.

   Cheers,

   eddie

   edit:   Larry W or anyone else - if I'm wrong here or anything else to add, jump in straight away please

   Edited 1/20/2004 11:38:06 PM ET by eddie (aust)

4. 
   BarryVaBeach | Jan 21, 2004 09:25pm | #21

   Eddie, I am not sure about left or right, but the escapement I cut is on the opposite side of the plane than the half set of hollow and rounds made by John Moseley and Sons

3. 
   metryman | Jan 22, 2004 07:39pm | #23

   Just wondering if you recieved my email the other day and if you were interested.

   John

1. 
   gecko | Jan 22, 2004 07:43pm | #24

   hi john

   I think I'll pass on them. I needed them for this week, but I managed to get my hands on some that worked out well.

   thanks a million though

   Custom Cabinetry and Furniture

   http://www.BartlettWoodworking.com

    

2. 
   lwilliams | Jan 17, 2004 05:48am | #11

   John,

   Molding planes are named according to the profile they cut rather than the shape of the plane's sole. Well, there are exceptions. Hollows and rounds are one of the exceptions. These were some of the earliest molding planes developed in the European trades and were named for the shape of the plane.

   That was all confusing enough and then along came W.L.Goodman who decided to correct that exception. In his books he reversed it so the shape of the cut was the name of the plane. He tried to change what he saw as an old mistake and succeeded only in confusing everyone. A lot of old wood workers and historians refused to follow his lead and stayed with the old terminology. Now even the edited newer editions of Goodman's books are reflect the old nomenclature from the Middle Ages for hollows and rounds.

   A hollow has a concave sole and a round has a convex sole. Last year I had the misfortune of finding myself contradicting Mack Headly about this in a pretty public setting. Fortunately we both consider Jay Gaynor, Director of Historic Trades and former Curator of Mechanical Arts at Colonial Williamsburg, to be one of the ultimate authorities on historic issues especially when it comes to old tools. Mack is a pretty sharp guy who most certainly deserves the respect he has in wood working circles. I'm very hesitant to disagree with anything he might say about 18th Century furniture making or tools. I have to tell you, I was most relieved when Jay Gaynor agreed with me.

   Edited 1/16/2004 9:49:57 PM ET by Larry Williams

7. 
   lostarrow | Jan 16, 2004 10:44pm | #8

   gecko-

   If you're interested in making Krenov style planes  try this  >>> http://www.crfinefurniture.com/1pages/sitelink/howplane <<<

   Be not afraid of going slowly.  Be afraid only of standing still.   chinese proverb
8. 
   jackiechan | Jan 17, 2004 06:12am | #12

   They have them on sale for $35 (US) at Garrett Wade.

   http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?lGen=detail&itemID=100166&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=10000&iSubCat=10008&iProductID=100166

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

1. 
   Sphere | Jan 17, 2004 09:40pm | #13

   I have made a few for the organbuilding trade and can tell you that I just used another plane as a sample, they are not hard to do once you get in the groove..(no Pun intended) I like worn out files for irons, and just about any wood for the body Beech is great, but apple, cherry, works well..so does white oak..many Japanese planes are some kind of oak.

   Old truck leaf springs also will yeild a wider iron, and can be found at any junkyard sometimes for free..I throw a hunk in the woodstove over nite, and let it burn out..next day it is soft enough ti shape then I reharden with a MAPP torch..then final grind and polish.

   I would start witha easy profile, leave the 'sprung' planes until yer drawing skills catch up with your cutting geometry skills!

1. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 18, 2004 01:25am | #14

   I've never heard anybody mention mesquite for plane bodies. With high hardness and low T/R shrinkage ratio, it seems like it would have a lot going for it.

1. 
   Sphere | Jan 18, 2004 01:31am | #15

   I wonder if osage orange would do well too? I have never laid my hands on mesquite, but from what I gather it would do well. I love osage..pretty, almost flourescent when fresh then a nice golden with age..coarse grain would hold wax on the sole well..LOL