circular reasoning or the plane truth?

[Bruce Seidner]

I have some boat building in the works and have been looking at circular, compass, Stanley #113, Stanley #20 planes thinking that these would suit the lines of a kayak with more apparent aplomb than a flat plane.

I have never held or used one so this is all theoretical for me. I was hoping for some practical feedback from individuals who use them regularly.

Also, are the 100 year old Stanley planes being sold meant to be work a day planes or are they collector items? I imagine it would of course depend on the shape it is in. But, not being a collector, why would one buy an antique #113 when for the same money a new #113 inspired plane could be had?

Thanking all in advance.

[Jonathan McCullough]

I'd tend to agree, but does a kayak not have complex, i.e., elliptical curves, rather than simple circular curves? If so, you would be theoretically be continually adjusting the sole. Seems like a a spokeshave drawn to a pattern might be better suited.

Come to think of it, I've actually seen how they did that. Google "The Pirogue Maker" and "folk" or "folkways." There's a very interesting video of a team of Acadians making a dugout Pirogue from tree to finished one-man boat. If memory serves, they used axes to fell it, giant two-man crosscut saws to chop it to length and cut sections out of the giant log, rip saws and wedges to split it. For the work you're looking to do, I remember seeing either a #5 or #6 flat plane on the more gradual curves, and for the bow, either spokeshaves or drawknives? They hollowed it out with adzes. Really amazing stuff, really fascinating. But no compass planes.

[Bruce Seidner]

The attraction of the #113 and #20 is the control of the blade depth. I can do a lot of damage with a draw knife, taking material down. I don't know about finishing.

[Jim Koepke]

Bruce,

Welcome to the Creek. Your profile does not list your location. Any chance you are in southern Washington?

Here is a post with me using the Stanley #113.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1230575#poststop

If you use the search button above and search on compass plane or circle plane, you will find a few discussions of them here.

There was also a table made using the #113 at:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=125340

The plane is a little tricky to use, but once you get the feel for it, it isn't too bad.

jim

[Jim Koepke]

Just thought of another plane that may be helpful in boat making. Not sure what it is called, may be a radius plane. It has a fixed sole that is curved from side to side and also front to back. Mostly they look like what is known as a coffin plane with a wooden body.

jim

[David Gendron]

You should post on the boat thread, and mabe a guy like Bob Smalser would chime in! He seems to know a few things on boat building!

[Dave Matson]

Is this a strip built kayak?

A large spoke shave like the lee valley model might be more useful for smoothing compound curves:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=62800&cat=1,50230

I have a stanley 20. It excels at smoothing constant radius or near constant radius curves like this elm footboard, but is more ornery with elliptical curves. I opted for the 20 over the 113 due to its ease of adjustment.

[James Taglienti]

Both the 113 and the 20 are usable planes. They were designed to be used! I own neither - I have heard that the #20 is a slightly better user as the adjustment feature results is slightly better.