plane irons

[JOEMIKE]

I am in the middle of my first build. The best tools for many operations (hand work)are not available over the counter. Some have already been made from old files etc. However, I would like to build a few special planes for future builds. Anyone know of a good source for plane irons? I perfer to cut my own so I am looking for the material to make them. Thanks guys!

 

[rich pierce]

You have a couple of choices, that's for sure. One of the best is to look on that online shopping site and buy some old molding planes and modify the plane irons and even the bodies for your use. You can remove stock or glue on stock to the bodies, and the irons can always be made smaller or re-shaped in profile. Another possibility is to make your own using flat spring steel stock. This is available at Brownells or other places. Most small molding planes have thick irons but if you are willing to go thinner, you could use the steel from antique one-man or two-man crosscut saws. The most difficult and challenging option is to use OCTS steel. That's a joke among blacksmiths. OCTS means "Old Chevy Truck Springs". These can be used to make almost anything a blackpowder guy could want that is steel, if you have a way to cut and shape them.

 

[dlemaster]

JOEMIKE
Rich is right about using old moulding planes.
I have them in 1/4", 5/16", and 3/8" round bottoms to do ramrod grooves and a couple in 1/2" and 7/16" to rough out barrel channels then I have a tool I hand forged out of a very large file that I use to put in the flats in the bottom of the channel.
I find good old moulding planes all the time around here for anywhere from $12.00 to $20.00
Hope this helps.

Regards, Dave

 

[rich pierce]

Dang that's right, a nice file would make a great plane iron.

 

[LSU TIGER]

I got a couple of planes on eBay for under $20.

 

[JOEMIKE]

I actually own a couple of molding planes. These are real works of art. The mortise is perfect and they still work as designed. I plan to use the design to make my own but I really don't want to destroy them to do something else. The woodworker that made them was an extraordinary craftsman. I keep them on my work bench as an example of what can be done.
Where on ebay? What catagory? I did a search but did not find them.

 

[tallbear]

JOEMIKE
If you go to Mcmaster-Carr .com you can by all kinds and sizes of tool steel.I have had good results useing 1095 carbon steel for plane blades.I think it would be cheeper than e-bay and you would know the properties of the steel your working.

Mitch

 

[LSU TIGER]

I ran a search for "wooden planes."

 

[SilverBear]

A good source for plane iron stock is from the old 2 man cross cut saws. The old Disstons had right good steel in them and they are thick enough for most molding plane type irons. You can anneal it first to get it soft enough to shape, then retemper it to hold the edge.

Tony (lots and lots of old tools..)