Wooden planes

[bugbear]

I'm not sure there's a 'right' answer to the question of which moulding planes to start with. It entirely depends on the sort of work in hand.

A lot of moulding planes, especially the complex ones, were made for architectural and interior joinery work - architraves, skirtings, dado rails, picture rails, cornices, door surrounds, door detailing and of course sash window work. See any Georgian or Victorian building for details. Unless you're involved in restoration or conservation work, I'd say such planes are more of interest than real use.

I think the reason we find so many different wooden planes is because they're easy to make; once the maker has the parts and skills down pat, most planes are just a permutation of a fairly small set of functional areas.

Moreover, since plane making involves a lot of hand work, variation and customisation can easily be included without slowing production.

So user requirments, even from a small market place, can be met.

For example, I don't suppose there were that many people in Victorian times making air tight display cases, but there were planes dedicated to that task (and so on for many other obscure planes, read Salaman!).

Another case in point is the plane factory itself. Many production tasks were made fast and accurate by using - a dedicated plane, The ultimate example of (in modern parlance) eating your own dog food.

The reason many of these planes don't show massive sign of wear is because they performed joint cutting or decorative shaping tasks. All the heavy stock prep was done with more general purpose, easy to maintain tools. Even when the desired moulding plane was to hand, it is normal to hack away the waste with ploughs, jacks and rebate planes before a few final strokes with the moulding plane.

One auto biographical book describes that the time consuming and fiddly task of sharpening moulding planes was left to the apprentices...

BugBear

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

'The Shock of the Old' written by historian David Edgerton. A thoroughly practical read, then. There is nothing like a book by someone with an expert working knowledge of what they are talking about, to really cut through the BS, is there?

Mike.

 

[Jacob]

....
The reason many of these planes don't show massive sign of wear is because they performed joint cutting or decorative shaping tasks. All the heavy stock prep was done with more general purpose, easy to maintain tools. Even when the desired moulding plane was to hand, it is normal to hack away the waste with ploughs, jacks and rebate planes before a few final strokes with the moulding plane.....

I've often come by rebate and moulding planes worn right down to the limit. They were intensively used especially for production joinery.
Luck of the draw - I've also had them with nearly new blades. Probability says they will be half worn out on average. Seems to be the case.

 

[Jacob]

Hello,

'The Shock of the Old' written by historian David Edgerton. A thoroughly practical read, then. There is nothing like a book by someone with an expert working knowledge of what they are talking about, to really cut through the BS, is there?

Mike.

You should read it before forming negative opinions. Mind you I don't think he mentions woodwork tools or sharpening. :roll:

 

[bugbear]

Probability says they will be half worn out on average.

That's not true, your maths is faulty again.

And richarnold's shelves says your claimed observation probably needs a larger sample.

I've seen lots of worn rebates, wandering around tool dealers, car boots, specialist tool auctions
but the only damage to moulding planes is normally beetle
worm and rust. Even 18th century ones in good condition are surprisingly common. See above
for the explanation of why.

BugBear

 

[Jacob]

Which claimed observation?

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

You only have to observe the number of antique object that have mouldings, linen folds, quirks etc. etc. to know they were used. Amateur forensic analasis of the tools themselves is not necessarily a good indicates of use. How many of these tools were onto their second of third irons for a start. Clearly, the fact that so many of these were made by so many makers indicates the want and need for the tools, it is hardly likely that so many were made before anyone realised they were not useful for much.

mike.

 

[Jacob]

I agree.
In any case it depends on the owner; one mans rarely used obscure specialist plane is another mans bread and butter.
Very improbable that they were making thousands of planes and not using them. Possibly the worst ones get dumped and don't appear for sale I suppose.

A quick look through my collection shows every condition from nearly new to completely nackerd.

 

[bugbear]

A quick look through my collection shows every condition from nearly new to completely nackerd.

And if we looked through jimi43's planes, we would find a high proportion of Gabriels.

In both cases, we learn more about purchasing choices than anything about historic plane usage.

BugBear

 

[tobytools]

Love the big jointer, how big?

Hi TT - Its 30" Long and by W Greenslade of Bristol and was one of the first old planes that I bought (about 1973) -the start of the slippery slope!!
Strangely The Jack plane was one of the hardest to collect--Realy decent ones are hard to find.
Regards---Arnold

Browsing through the search menu and remembered this thread. Currently I have a 27 1/2" jointer.
Ever since I saw your 30" I wanted one.
That day finally came a few hours ago.
Cost me £1ish an inch lol. If only hey

How much did your cost as I haven't a clue what these things are worth.

I have to admit I'm annoyed I spent hard earnt money on another plane. I promised I would to myself again but owell lol.

Photos soon to follow.

TT