Wooden plane I.D.
- Thread starter whiskywill
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whiskywill
Established Member
I think it's probably a spill plane.
If you can find a bit of wood thin enough to fit in the groove, I think you will see that the very low angle blade will split off a long thin sliver of wood from the edge, which could then be used to light a candle, pipe etc from an open fire.
These were often user made rather than commercial so there are many variations on the theme. Sometimes the plane was fixed (or held in a vice) and the wood moved along it; sometimes the wood was fixed as usual and the plane was moved.
If you can find a bit of wood thin enough to fit in the groove, I think you will see that the very low angle blade will split off a long thin sliver of wood from the edge, which could then be used to light a candle, pipe etc from an open fire.
These were often user made rather than commercial so there are many variations on the theme. Sometimes the plane was fixed (or held in a vice) and the wood moved along it; sometimes the wood was fixed as usual and the plane was moved.
Good point Pete. Now that I've had a look in a couple of books I think I am wrong and you are right.
There were planes for splitting off thick, untwisted strips - called spelks - as used for small cheese boxes and similar. This one looks too small and lightweight for that.
Does it take a normal shaving if it is used on a thin board or oversized tongue?
There were planes for splitting off thick, untwisted strips - called spelks - as used for small cheese boxes and similar. This one looks too small and lightweight for that.
Does it take a normal shaving if it is used on a thin board or oversized tongue?
Sheffield Tony
Ghost of the disenchanted
Given it is made from relatively small pieces screwed together rather than morticed, it looks like a user made special to me. I thought spill plane briefly too, but having researched them to make one myself, quickly dismissed the idea.
Low angle, so perhaps end grain use ? But why ? Is the depth stop an important feature ? Trimming a tongue to length ? Dunno.
Low angle, so perhaps end grain use ? But why ? Is the depth stop an important feature ? Trimming a tongue to length ? Dunno.
Thinking about who might have needed it, it's probably not been made by an ordinary joiner or cabinetmaker - standard tools exist to meet their needs.
So I would guess that it would have been made and used by a patternmaker. The range of special odd shapes that they needed to produce was infinite. They always needed to work to exact dimensions too, and one feature of this plane is that it would reduce a narrow projection to an exact height - 12mm - as the wide body works as a depth stop. If a patternmaker needed to make a batch of patterns, all with exactly dimensioned ribs or rims or something, it could have been worth his time to make a special plane. He'd certainly have had the ability - indeed it was perfectly normal for patternmakers to make their own tools.
That's all speculation of course, and although I can't prove it, I don't think anyone can disprove it!
So I would guess that it would have been made and used by a patternmaker. The range of special odd shapes that they needed to produce was infinite. They always needed to work to exact dimensions too, and one feature of this plane is that it would reduce a narrow projection to an exact height - 12mm - as the wide body works as a depth stop. If a patternmaker needed to make a batch of patterns, all with exactly dimensioned ribs or rims or something, it could have been worth his time to make a special plane. He'd certainly have had the ability - indeed it was perfectly normal for patternmakers to make their own tools.
That's all speculation of course, and although I can't prove it, I don't think anyone can disprove it!
toolsntat
Yep, I collect tools and tat
Not all spills / tapers were spiralled, remember the time you were allowed to play with fire in Chemistry at school and the bits of wood were straight?
If you get the right flawless straight grained timber for this it should work well.
Note the way the wedge goes all the way through on one side of blade only.
The other side is left clear with a gap all the way up to allow the exit of the wood. This is in real terms the mouth of the plane. Note there is no side mouth.
Also note that normal woodshavings are going to have trouble exiting this setup.
I have got and seen other planes with similar workings to this including a rather rare Matchmaking plane by Moseley. One of mine is a bit wider and utilizes a couple of scribes before the cut to divide the "shaving" into 3 parts.
I should for your benefit now picture a couple of mine but finding them ain't gonna be easy #-o
Cheers Andy
If you get the right flawless straight grained timber for this it should work well.
Note the way the wedge goes all the way through on one side of blade only.
The other side is left clear with a gap all the way up to allow the exit of the wood. This is in real terms the mouth of the plane. Note there is no side mouth.
Also note that normal woodshavings are going to have trouble exiting this setup.
I have got and seen other planes with similar workings to this including a rather rare Matchmaking plane by Moseley. One of mine is a bit wider and utilizes a couple of scribes before the cut to divide the "shaving" into 3 parts.
I should for your benefit now picture a couple of mine but finding them ain't gonna be easy
#-o Cheers Andy
whiskywill
Established Member
Pete Maddex":2vupc3hz said:
It didn't look home made until I took it apart. The "iron" is a bit of old hacksaw blade.
whiskywill
Established Member
Sheffield Tony":1kboiy5u said:
It's not a depth stop as such. It's the end of the wedge.
whiskywill
Established Member
AndyT":3g6pcz7t said:
Yes.
whiskywill
Established Member
swb58":2cswazwa said:
A single very shallow bevel . i will measure it.
whiskywill
Established Member
swb58":3nra6321 said:
It has a 10 degree single bevel, fitted bevel up at a round 13.5 degrees.
whiskywill
Established Member
AndyT":24hjxnjx said:
It doesn't make anything for me. It just jammed up.
It could well be a spill plane as the only exit for the shavings is along the length of the blade and out through a small slot.
This is similar. https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&t ... -siu8g0ovM:
Orraloon
Established Member
A pic of the blade and wedge out of the plane would help. From the sole picks I see blade at one level and the end of the wedge at the other which does not look right. If the blade end is stepped then it would have made a stepped rebate or edge in one go. User made by the look of it and unless you have a go with it we will never know if things worked out for that user.
Regards
John.
Regards
John.
Orraloon
Established Member
Sorry I did not notice the bit about the blade edge when I wrote the last post. Still as stumped as ever.
Regards
John.
Regards
John.
