Can I make my own shoulder plane

[Zahid Naqvi]

I am looking at the wooden shoulder planes at the bay and some tools vendors. It seems one can make a wooden shoulder plane by themselves. The most critical componants would be making sure the bottom and sides are a perfect 90 degrees. Has any one tried making one? Any online information which might help in the process?
I have recently attempted a marking gauge and a marking knife. Although not as pretty as ones Dave Anderson makes, but they are accurate and stable where they need to be. And I really enjoyed the process, which is what it's all about.

[Marc Hills]

Hi Zahid:

If you're interested in making your own shoulder plane, you should strongly consider the shoulder plane kit from Shepherd Tools. Doug and Ben have been known to spend time around SMC, but are far too modest (or busy sampling single malt scotch) to toot their own horn. No, I haven't had the pleasure of obtaining one of their planes, but several members have and given them good reviews.

By way of alternative, I happened to acquire a very narrow Nooitgedagt rabbet plane that has been a dandy tool for cleaning up tenon shoulders. I think I paid all of $2.00 for it on that online auction service that shall remained unmentioned. In the interests of full disclosure, I did have to cough up another $5.00 or so for shipping. The blade is very good.

I've been tossing about the idea of beveling the sides of the blade and rabbeting the bottom inch or so of the sides by about 1/8". Then if I could find some brass channel stock, I could encase that rabbeted portion in brass, file a new mouth opening and have a nice homebrew version of a wooden/metal shoulder plane, a la HMT Gordon.

This is what that Nooitgedagt plane looks like:

[Peter Gavin]

Marc,

They have Brass Channels here: http://www.mcmaster.com/

Zahid,

THis may also help you in your design.

Peter

[Zahid Naqvi]

Marc,

They have Brass Channels here: http://www.mcmaster.com/

Zahid,

THis may also help you in your design.

Peter

great site Peter, now if only I can find enough people to split the brass channel with, which only comes in 8 foot lengths. Not terribly expensive though, $90 for a 1"X1" brass channel 8' long.

[Peter Gavin]

Zahid,

Make a bunch of shoulder planes and sell them. More money for tools. As long as you are making one.

Peter

[Steven Wilson]

I made one out of metal from a kit. It is great fun to peen metal dovetails together.

[Marc Hills]

Hi Zahid:

I realize my first response might not have been that helpful. Here is what I could find from my links regarding plane making:

http://www.crfinefurniture.com/1pages/sitelinks/howplane.html
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=noNavProcessor&p=Build/BldHndPln.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Shores/8907/louis.html
http://www.norsewoodsmith.com/ww/plane/plane.htm
http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/NavBars/planemaking_navbar.html
http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/woodworking/jigs.phtml

Hope this helps.

[Zahid Naqvi]

Hi Zahid:

I realize my first response might not have been that helpful. Here is what I could find from my links regarding plane making:

http://www.crfinefurniture.com/1pages/sitelinks/howplane.html
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=noNavProcessor&p=Build/BldHndPln.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Shores/8907/louis.html
http://www.norsewoodsmith.com/ww/plane/plane.htm
http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/NavBars/planemaking_navbar.html
http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/woodworking/jigs.phtml

Hope this helps.

Marc, as always your help is greately appreciated. Lee Valley has replacement blades for their shoulder plane selling for $2.95, and I have a 6' board of purple heart which is good for nothing else.
I saw the Nooitgedagt on eBay, it's above $3 way too expensive if you ask me :eek: :D . I might buy one to look at the finer points of the design.

[Zahid Naqvi]

Just ordered a 1" replacement blade from LeeValley and some 1"X6", 1/4" thick brass strips from mcmaster.com, should be an interesting experiment.