Blacksmith or supplier/makers of plane irons

[Beachcricket]

Hello

I'm looking for someone who can make plane irons or supply them is a custom dimensions? I'm a cricket bat maker but make the odd hand plane for people when I can, but I would like to get into it more and diversify my income a little bit.

I've previously used old stock and had a few from Philly Planes but was wondering if anyone knew of others who can do this work? Whilst I'm not dissatisfied with the irons I've had, it would be good to know more about what's available.

Thank you
David

 

[MMUK]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy standard sized irons and grind them down?

 

[Beachcricket]

I have used single irons before and cut them down but the extra work of cleaning them up is something I'm trying to avoid if possible.

 

[MMUK]

In that case would it not be easier to make your planes to fit a standard iron? I would have thought that would be a much cheaper option

 

[Harbo]

Phil Edwards of Philly Planes will make blades to order.

Rod

 

[Beachcricket]

It would be, however I'm looking for a solid iron without the slot for the chip breaker and screw. I could buy something larger and cut it down or use a standard iron but then I'm paying for steel I don't need.

I may send Phil and email and explain my position and see if he can help.

 

[MMUK]

What size are you looking for? I believe QS have some solid irons that are #2 ish in size.

 

[Peter Sefton]

I would say Ray Iles is the man for the job, he has produced spacial blades for me and made one on my students a replacement blade for his Norris.
Cheers Peter

 

[Jacob]

Your local saw doctor, engineering workshop, steel factor/stockholder should be able to cut blanks of various sorts of steel. It's simple stuff, nothing specialised about it.

 

[MMUK]

Your local saw doctor, engineering workshop, steel factor/stockholder should be able to cut blanks of various sorts of steel. It's simple stuff, nothing specialised about it.

Until it comes to getting the blade heat treated and tempered........ :roll:

 

[Jacob]

Your local saw doctor, engineering workshop, steel factor/stockholder should be able to cut blanks of various sorts of steel. It's simple stuff, nothing specialised about it.

Until it comes to getting the blade heat treated and tempered........ :roll:

Heat treating/tempering can be DIY, but is it really necessary with these modern steel recipes?
What happens if you just use a piece of tool steel without treatment?

 

[MMUK]

Heat treating/tempering can be DIY

You have a furnace capable of 1200 degrees then? And an oil quenching bath? And another furnace at about 220 degrees? And a water quenching bath?

You obviously haven't got a clue about the proper heat treating and tempering process :roll:

 

[Racers]

Ground Flat Stock (Gauge Plate) is available in both metric and imperial widths and thickness's, but needs heat treating.

Pete

 

[Racers]

Heat treating/tempering can be DIY

You have a furnace capable of 1200 degrees then? And an oil quenching bath? And another furnace at about 220 degrees? And a water quenching bath?

You obviously haven't got a clue about the proper heat treating and tempering process :roll:

It is possible in a barbecue with a hair-dryer to get up to temperature and an oven can be used to temper, for small blades a MAPP torch works.



Pete

 

[wizard]

I think Beachcricket is looking for someone to do it on the cheep

 

[Jacob]

......
You obviously haven't got a clue about the proper heat treating and tempering process :roll:

No I haven't - that's why I asked, except I do know that it is possible to DIY, as Pete demonstrates.
But is it really necessary - aren't modern steels already hard enough? (NB I haven't a clue about this, which is why I'm asking).

 

[bugbear]

Your local saw doctor, engineering workshop, steel factor/stockholder should be able to cut blanks of various sorts of steel. It's simple stuff, nothing specialised about it.

Until it comes to getting the blade heat treated and tempered........ :roll:

Heat treating/tempering can be DIY, but is it really necessary with these modern steel recipes?
What happens if you just use a piece of tool steel without treatment?

It's normally supplied in an annealed state, so as soft as possible, to make it easy(ish) to hacksaw, file etc.

BugBear

 

[Richard T]

Jacob the trick is to be able to shape steel when soft before hardening - I know the modern steels are highly thought of but they are not magic.

I think that maybe the best bet for the OP is to buy some ground flat stock (01) machined to the right size and to shape as he wants, bevel, tapered/rounded back etc. and then get it hardened and tempered.
It's still quite expensive stuff though - best to look at what sizes a company supplies as standard at not pay for any extra grinding work. Annealed 01 is quite easy to work by hand.

Here's who I use:

http://www.coventry-grinders.co.uk/gaugeplate.html

Standard stock sizes in both English and metric and quite local.

 

[Beachcricket]

Thanks for the info guys,

It's all about having a consistent and reliable supply or source. You have to pay good money for good work, so I'm happy to do that. I'll try the various suggestions and see what I can sort out.

 

[Vann]

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.a ... 43698&ap=1

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.a ... 43698&ap=1

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.a ... 43698&ap=1

http://www.hocktools.com/PI.htm

HTH

Cheers, Vann.