Video: Making Your Own Hand Plane. Years ago, while studying ID at Pratt I had the pleasure of taking a sculpture class taught by the master crafstman Toshio Odate.
It was in his class that I first used a block plane, and I was all wide-eyed at the gossamer shavings that came out of it. I was reminded of this as I came across this video from the William Ng Woodworking School in California, where they offer a class where you make your own plane. (The video is not a tutorial but an unnarrated look at what you'd be doing in the class.) For those on the West Coast, the three-day class will run you $385 plus another $75 for materials. In an earlier interview we did with Otherlab's Saul Griffith, he discussed the importance of creators fabricating their own tools.
Make a High-Angle Smoothing Plane. David Barron continues his toolmaking series by showing you how to make a James Krenov-style plane 1.Plane soles of lignum vitae cut to a thickness of 4mm I have been making hand planes for a number of years and this little smoother is one of the most useful.
Unlike metal planes the hard wooden sole will glide over the work. Indeed it becomes more slippery with use. The high angle, in this case 57 degrees, will plane most woods without tearout and the very thick blade will eliminate annoying chatter. This style of plane was championed by James Krenov and, although I have tried a number of different making methods, I have found his way to be the best. Before starting the plane you need to have the chosen blade to hand. Commercially made blades are also freely available as spares, e.g. for the Lie Nielsen 97 and a half chisel plane and the Veritas edge-trimming plane. Preparing blank Marking out shape Cutting cheeks and beds Making cross pin Reassembling blank Curves and profiles. Make Your Own Planes. Rob Stoakley designs and makes a wooden plane 1.The finished plane Faced with the problem of finding a way to shape safely the sculpted, concave form on the sides of my teak casket, I resorted to making a special plane with a curved sole.
Use of this made the whole process relatively easy. The plane described here adopts the same laminated technique as used by James Krenov, but with some significant differences. I have added a separate sole - although Krenov does advocate this in The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking, but seems to prefer to use planes without a separate sole - and a cap iron made from brass, as well as an adjustable mouth, highly desirable in a wooden plane. The separate sole allows the main body of the plane to be made from an easy-working offcut; the sole, usually made from something obscenely hard and difficult, is then glued in place. Drawings Machining The material, a length of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) should at this stage be overlong. Gluing up Tote Mouth and insert Bolt. How To Build 3 Basic Hand Planes. Of all the tools you use to shape wood, the hand plane is the one that has come to symbolize craftsmanship of the highest order.
And it's no surprise. Here's a cutting tool that's designed to create truth: dead straight and flat surfaces ready for finishing and precise joinery. Tuning one up and mastering its use are two of the greatest thrills of woodworking. But, if you really want to bring the planes in your shop to the next level, it's time to make your own. Our interpretations are easily built, and the basic design is well-suited to modification so you can make planes that match your needs. While many woods are suitable, we chose cherry for the bodies and wenge for the soles of our planes. Tb_lg_plans-lg-1.jpg (809×1134) PLANE MAKING. 1.
Stock preparation. A. Resaw, join, thickness, and square the center block and cheeks. Use the plane iron as a gauge to assure 1/16" adjustment clearance on center block. Blades and Such for Planes and More. Www.whisperedimages.com/Classes/BuildaHandPlane/BuildaWoodenHandPlane.pdf.