Wooden hand planes

[loki04]

Gentlemen,

as a poor man, I cannot afford to feed my lust for the shiniest and most decorated hand planes for my wood working. However, I figure that I can make my money stretch much further if I can figure out how to make wood hand planes (I want at least twelve... but I can start with one.) Any ideas on the blades themselves, or as to where i might look for some plans?

Regards,
Loki

 

[Short Arm]

Loki, Try this link:http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/resources/index.php?cat=607

 

[Black Hand]

Lots of stuff on the internet.

Blades can be made from carbon steel, though would take some knowledge of heat-treating and maybe blacksmithing. Pre-made plane blades can also be had from numerous wood-working supply houses. Even Ace Hardware carries them.

All in all not impossible, but it will be time-consuming. However, when you factor in time, materials, supplies and tools, it really may end up being cheaper to buy (though not near as fun or rewarding).
Albert

 

[Birdman]

if ya can't find info on the net(likely ya will)there are several books I've read about out on how to build them n sorces for the material including the knives. Heck, try "you tube" they got everything else I've ever punched in

 

[Andrew smith]

Depending on what kind of tools and experience you already have, you may want to look into british infill planes. Here is a link to some plans for a block plane and I think a jack plane. It is about the easiest way to make an infill plane. Silver soldering is fairly simple to do. They show you how to cut the finger joints with a saw blade on a table saw but it can be done with a file and some patience.
http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/079/extras/brass-body-block-plane/
http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/079/extras/brass-body-hand-plane/

 

[loki04]

Sir,

I will have to look for some of the books then, as I tend to prefer hard copy over electronic when I can get it. I Will take a look and see what I can find for the blades.

Thanks folks,
Loki

 

[Andrew smith]

Here's a place for planer blades,
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=60009&cat=1,41182,43698&ap=1
www.woodcraft.com also has some planer blades but I do not know if they make them for wooden planes or not.

 

[MSW]

the real "trick" (if one would call it that) is to get and keep whichever blade you use so sharp that you could shave with it. really shave.

good luck with your project. good planes are a thing of beauty and a joy to behold. often, you can find some gems at flea markets and yard sales. if you're willing to put some serious elbow grease into rehabbing an old one, you can really make out like a bandit.

just a thought.

good luck with your search for planeittude!

 

[FPDoc]

Making Traditional Wooden Planes by John M. Whelan is a good book, I got mine at Amazon.
For plane irons, look at hocktools.com for a start. Custom/replacement plane irons are expensive. Tool steel isnt too expensive and flat sharp plane irons are pretty straight forward to make.

 

[loki04]

Sir,

I shall have to look into this book. It sounds like it will b useful.

Loki

 

[longbow-hunter]

look on the net for The Woodwrights Shop. Roy made several on his show and I know there are some plans on their sight.

 

[loki04]

Sir,

You have given me yet another reason to buy some of Roy's books. :grin: They are on my acquisitions list, at least as soon as I have time to deal with wood again. Ah the joy of classes...

Regards,
Loki

 

[4570tc]

I have a question; How far out could you set the blade, from the bed??? I was thinking of using a wood plane to help install a barrel?

 

[loki04]

Sir,

You don't want to set the blade too far down, or the blade will 'Chatter,' and make bad cuts. However, what you are speaking of sounds a lot like either a rabbet plane (flat on the bottom), or a type of moulding plane. These planes do not necessarily have shoulders, so you could get them into the barrel channel fairly easily and cut the channel with them, while giving the iron support. I figure that if you have either a round or octagonal straight barrel, it would go fairly quickly to rough out the barrel channel with an iron shaped to match. (Swamped barrels on the other hand, might not take to this idea as well.) You would probably still have to chisel the back of the channel out but even so, it might make it a little easier overall.

You would probably have to make the plane and iron yourself, unless you can convince some of these fine gentlemen here to make one for you... And as an added bonus, you would have a tool made just for barrel in-letting, as long as your next rifle has a barrel of the same size and type, meaning that you have a good reason to build the next one (can't let a tool go to waste...)

On a side note, I have not built either of these planes yet, so hopefully some of the gentlemen here will tell you (and me) if I am just full of it. :grin:

Hope this helps,
Loki

 

[Stumpkiller]

The July 2009 issue of Muzzleblasts has a small article on making hand planes. Also a resource listed for blades. www.hocktools.com


I have a book titled "The Practical Woodworker" by Bernard Jones and it has a chapter on wood planes and their use. Lots of other good info on handtools (non-electric). Geared more for cabinetmaking than gunsmithing.