Making wooden planes

[Karl]

Ok, so on the spur of the moment I ordered a nice lump of hardwood from Workshop Heaven with the intention of making a plane. Problem is that I now need to decide what type of plane(s) to make.

The piece is 640 x 85 x 70 mm. I have several options:

1) A pair of handed mitre planes.

2) A smoothing plane and matching jack plane. Handled, like this one but with a wedge instead of the fine adjuster.

3) A long jointer plane.

4) A combination of the above.

I don't really "need" any of the above, but would love to have one of my own creations to use.

Look forward to hearing what you guys think.

Cheers

Karl

 

[wizer]

mitre planes

 

[Ironballs]

If you design the smoother the same way as the one in the link then you could have a plane that doubles up as a scraper plane by reversing the blade

 

[woodbloke]

Big Woodie 8-[ :tool: :lol: - Rob

 

[Ironballs]

Oh dear

 

[Karl]

Well that make it an easier decision!

I think I will see what the piece looks like before making a decision - it should be here today.

Cheers

Karl

 

[pedder]

Hi Karl,

I would make the jack as a first plane. It's a tool for coarse work so it would be usable even if there are minor lapses. :wink:

Cheers
Pedder

 

[Karl]

Hi Karl,

so it would be usable even if there are minor lapses. :wink:

Good point !

Cheers

Karl

 

[Racers]

Hi, Karl

Come on, what wood did you order? and when do we see the pics?


Pete

 

[Karl]

Hi Pete

The wood is a piece of Ancient Kauri, as seen here.

It didn't arrive today - hopefully tomorrow. I will get one face planed up and have a look at the grain.

Cheers

Karl

 

[bugbear]

Hi Karl,

I would make the jack as a first plane. It's a tool for coarse work so it would be usable even if there are minor lapses. :wink:

Cheers
Pedder

Or a scrub, for the same reasons, possibly more so, since jacks are common second hand, and scrubs less so.

In truth, there's a continuum from "fine jack" to pure scrub anyway, and discussed before.

BugBear

 

[Pete B]

Kauri is a little soft for plane making generally. Not sure why they have that listed under hardwoods either?

 

[bobscarle]

I was eyeing up a couple of table legs (science benches from Corby) the other night, thinking much the same. I am going to go for a jointer, simply because I don't have one. I guess that should be the prime consideration when making your choice.

If I may ask a question, where were you going to get a blade from?

Not much help at all really, was it?

Bob

 

[woodbloke]

Kauri is a little soft for plane making generally.

If it's a bit on the soft side for a plane, the other option is to glue on a harder bit of stuff on the underside. Bubinga would be good, Martin let me had a nice lump of greenheart for plane making which is excellent. The only slight problem is that it's a bit more difficult to work out where mouth will come after you've glued on sole, which is why I went for the adjustable infilled mouth on the few that I've made - Rob

 

[Benchwayze]

I rather like the A55 smoother/scraper.

It doesn't look too difficult and I do believe you can buy the metalwork, if you haven't the facilities do make it yourself.

Even so, it might be a bit ambitious for a first make. Maybe Philly would be able to advise.

'Cos I'd like one of those, instead of looking out for a Stanley scraper!

 

[roombacurious]

I had never heard of Ancient Kauri before. I was amazed and a bit shocked to realise that it's not just a name, it really is ancient.
I don't know why but I would feel quite uncomfortable using wood that is 45,000 years old... Disrespectful in a way...

If I'm not making any sense just ignore me!