Plane strik buttons

[Matthew N. Masail]

I was wondering if there is much difference between a ebony button or a mahogany one? is the energy transfer much different? maybe a 10mm brass dowel?

[Jim Belair]

Good question Matthew! I think one would want a material dense enough to transfer the energy but not so hard as to trash a wooden plane hammer. So the ebony in your list of three.

[Zach Dillinger]

I would use the ebony. Mahogany may be too soft to hold up without denting. Personally, I wouldn't use brass on a wooden plane, but it might look good depending on the wood used for the plane body.

[george wilson]

Ebony,I agree. I've seen old ones made of boxwood,too. My favorite old Nurse(maker's name) plane has a boxwood one.

[Mark Wyatt]

I really like the ebony strike button on the planes which have them. On old planes I've seen and own, they seem to hold up the best over the years.

[Matthew N. Masail]

Great! how deep does it need to be imbeded?

[Kees Heiden]

On most planes I see overhere, they just used a big hex bolt. Something like an inch across the flats. The top is usually filed in a bit of a dome shape. But I agree, ebony would look a lot nicer.

[Matthew N. Masail]

Hi Kees, who uses a Hex bolts? factories? sounds pretty tacky to me

[Matthew N. Masail]

Good question Matthew! I think one would want a material dense enough to transfer the energy but not so hard as to trash a wooden plane hammer. So the ebony in your list of three.

Thanks Jim! wish I had a dowel plate or somthing

[Paul Saffold]

Kees, where is "overhere"??

[Mark Wyatt]

The button's that I've seen that are loose or missing have been set 3/4" to 1" into the body of the plane.

[Kees Heiden]

Overhere is in The Netherlands. I can find old Nooitgedagt wooden planes in heaps. And most jointers have such a bolt up on the front. Older Dutch planes also had iron strike buttons but usually a bit mOre refined. Makes you wonder if the carpenters used a metal hammer for plane adjustments.

Nooitgedagt was in business from 1865 or so untill the 1980s.

[Ryan Baker]

I have a late 1800s wooden jack with the button missing (you can see where it was). If it was recessed at all, it was less than 1/32". I suppose that's probably why it was missing. Still, 3/4" to 1" seems a bit unnecessary.

[george wilson]

Kees,what does Nooitgedagt mean? I always wondered.

[Kees Heiden]

Nooitgedagt was the name of the guy who started the company. It means something like: who would have thought that?

[george wilson]

A very different sort of name than we would have here!!!! I taught a couple of off the boat Greek boys in 1963. They thought it was hilarious that some people had names that were colors,like Mr. Green,etc..

[John Walkowiak]

The Sandusky Tool Co. used Lignum Vite for most planes, ebony on their "best" planes. Smooth and jack planes strikes were 3/4" dia. at the top, tapering to 5/8", 1" long. Jointers were 1 1/16" dia. tapering to 1", 1" long. All were domed on the top. 18th C planes and user made planes used a diamond shape strike, some are found with a huge wrought nail as a strike. If you don't have a lathe, the diamond shaped ones look great.

[Roy Griggs]

Matthew,
I turned a 3/4" x 3/4" x 12" Ebony turning blank from Woodcraft into a 3/4" round dowel 12" long on the lathe which made 16 3/4" od x 3/4" long strike buttons which I used in the kingwood handles of some (7) chisels. I used a lathe but you could easily do the job with a plane. Maybe use an octagon shaped button..

[Matthew N. Masail]

Roy thats a great idea... my problem is exotic woods I have to order from overseas... I'm considering just using a 3/4 oak dowel beacuse I want to put the plane into real use.

[Bill White]

Dogwood is also a possibility.
Bill

[Roy Griggs]

Matthew,

Let's see if I lived in say, Israel...I think I'd use a piece of olivewood!!! I've never had any but I've seen it at Woodcraft, and I think it would fit the bill nicely. Another suggestion, and I'm showing my total lack of knowledge as to what is available to you in Israel is to seek out pen blanks. Practically any species of wood you could want.
Then again, there's nothing wrong with oak...

[Kees Heiden]

A very different sort of name than we would have here!!!! I taught a couple of off the boat Greek boys in 1963. They thought it was hilarious that some people had names that were colors,like Mr. Green,etc..

Yes that is a funny story. Official family names where introduced by th French when they occupied our country in 1800. A lot of people didn't take it serious and gave a funny name. But later on the new Dutch government took over this new rule and there are still some of these funny names around.