Designing a box for a plough plane

[Derek Cohen]

I returned to the shop this past weekend for the first time in two months. I guess one should not be surprised that I had a couple of weeks of flu following my return to a steaming Australia from the cold and snow of US and Canada.


Anyway, before I left for the other colonies I had begun designing and constructing a box for a bridle plough plane built several months ago. It was to be basic (it's just a box!) yet needed to be interesting enough to earn its place in the shop.


The box began as a simple dovetail construction mixing two West Australian woods, Jarrah and She-oak, both of which had featured in the plough plane.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box5-1_zps424cbf6e.jpg


It did present a few interesting moments, such as a tricky diagonal saw cut to open it up ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/A15_zps04f42bd7.jpg


Initially I had been inspired by the lines of a military/campaign writing desk.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/A16_zpsdc14891f.jpg


I went so far as to French fit the 8 irons in a frame-and-panel insert (that was fun - the Jarrah is both brittle and hard) ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/VeritasJackRabbetPlane_html_15c7a7bf_zps229602e0.j pg


It became apparent that this was not going to work. Just too bulky and too heavy to manoeuvre.


Perhaps it would look better orientated like this?


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box8_zpsa6d36b4b.jpg


That was even worse!


The trouble was that I had worked hard to match the dovetails on the sides, and I had to let this go. So, after some soul searching, the box has ended up like this ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box2_zps72f4bed3.jpg


The front is a frame-and-panel lid/door. As mentioned , one of my goals was to make the box as simple as possible. I did not want mouldings or fancy fittings. Indeed, I did not want any brass hinges, handles, or catches to show on the exterior.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box1_zpsaba881ce.jpg


As you have anticipated, the front opens downward ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box3_zpsb9c88913.jpg


.. to reveal the plough (much easier to grab now than leaning into a box). This is held in place by a bracket at the rear ..


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box4_zpsc331e03b.jpg


.. and the irons with the rescued French-fit tray. They are secured by a single cross piece ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box5_zps04d05b71.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box6_zpsbef91ceb.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/boxes/Plough%20plane%20tool%20box/Box7_zpsee340055.jpg


And the remaining section of the box? It will be converted into a writing desk.


Regards from Perth


Derek


p.s. I think that it is time to build a light box. Apologies for the quality of the pics.

[Chris Griggs]

Very nice solution Derek. I like it! Really like how you tackled finding a place/way to hold all the irons. The plane ain't to shabby either:)

[David Weaver]

I like the conclusion Derek. The entire box was almost hulky, though, of course, very finely executed.

If I were wielding the plane around the shop, I would rather do it with the half box as you have it now.

Plus you have a free piece of nicely executed kit to do something else with now.

[Jim Matthews]

Okay, come clean -
what did you do with the other part of the box?

[Derek Cohen]

Patience Jim, I've only just got back into the shop. :)

The other section of the box is intended for a lap writing desk. But first i plan to build a full size writing desk. More on that later.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Bill Bukovec]

Derek,

Where did you get the blades/irons for the plane?



Bill

[Gary Muto]

That's a great solution. Speaking as an engineer, I appreciate how you take us through the design process. Turning problems and flaws into solutions and features. Thanks for sharing.

[Derek Cohen]

Derek,

Where did you get the blades/irons for the plane?

Bill

Hi Bill

At a David Stanley auction (UK) last year. They were unused.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Koepke]

Great work and an interesting solution.

Thanks for sharing.

jtk

[Charlie Stanford]

I honestly can't imagine anything nicer. The execution is flawless.