Preparing for the Perth LN Tool Event

[Derek Cohen]

Next weekend in Perth is the LN Tool Event. This is the third or fourth year it has been held. Each year I have been invited to provide a weekend of demonstrations. I have tried to vary these. This year I suggested plane making and, before I could change my mind, this appeared on the adverts. It dawned on me shortly after this that I should have suggested something simpler. :O


In for a penny, in for a pound ... I spend the past three weekends building planes to take with me as examples. I have a number of planes I have built over the years that I could take along as examples - a recent bridle plough and a jointer, two dovetail planes (one male and one female) ... the list is quite long. However I thought I needed something fresh.


I also realised that the type of planes I could build in front of an audience (whom I am sure will get bored and move on) would be limited to those I could chop out in front of them. Some thing like a coffin smoother. So I have planned for this. The problem with these planes is that they are not for absolute beginners. The easiest plane to build is a laminated body, notably the Krenov plane (with a correctly shaped cross piece, which is the most important part of the design). However these are machine-made planes, which I cannot do at the Tool Event. To demonstrate these planes, then, I have made up a model that can be broken down, and several examples of a Krenov.


The third type of plane I have to show is a router plane. These are easy to build with a drill press. I shall give anyone interested a plan to use at home, plus demonstrate its use.


Here is a my bench as I tidied up this evening ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE1_zps14a75a62.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE2_zpsf833c506.jpg


I really like these router planes. They are what I would call a "Medium" - smaller than a large and larger than a small. Really an excellent size, nimble and very precise. Think of them as a woodie - they do not need an fine adjuster as they are adjusted with a light tap from a mallet. The planes use the Veritas irons, so there is a range from 1/8' through to 1/2" available (there's a 1/4" and 1/2" with each one on sale). The blade holder uses a wavy washer (like the Veritas), which means that you can loosen the wing nut and the blade will not drop out. There is a depth stop (which I consider a vital piece of equipment with a router plane).


Krenov smoother in West Australian She-oak. This is 7" long, with a 1 1/2" Hock blade/chipbreaker at 55 degrees.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE3_zpsaebb43c9.jpg


Three Krenov block planes. 5 1/4" long, with two in Jarrah and a third in Tuart (a very hard Aussie wood). 1 1/4" Mujingfang blades (from Lee Valley), bedded at 40 degrees.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE4_zpsaa623b35.jpg


I am so impressed with these Krenov planes. I have an original plane from Jim Krenov, which I use on occasions, but otherwise have never had much interest in building these planes. They are soooo sweet!


I built this coffin smoother today. The body is my favourite Tasmanian Blackwood (similar to Koa). The 1 3/4" iron is a (NOS) J.Herring & Sons, which is laminated and tapered. The body is 6 3/4" long.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE5a_zps91e21fc5.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE6_zpsb88fab11.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE7_zps5d31ab72.jpg


You have seen the 15" Jarrah Strike Block Plane already ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE8_zps3a605ac6.jpg


Here is the Krenov that can be pulled apart. Along side it is an example of the router plane post drilling and pre sawing ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE10_zps7f19b4a4.jpg


Lastly, there are blanks in various stages for building the smoothers ..


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE11_zps16c12ef1.jpg


All suggestions welcomed.


Regards from Perth


Derek

[Chris Griggs]

Very cool Derek! Your gonna hurt LNs sales with those though:)

[Jim Belair]

Wow, they all look great Derek. I wish I could be as productive in just a few weekends. Ditto Chris' comment that LN sales might suffer when folks see what a skilled craftsman can make.

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

Great work, Derek!

Maybe they'll make up lost sales in planes in sales of extra irons, and chisels and floats to make the planes . . .

[Derek Cohen]

The new knurled knobs ("brass coupling knobs", from on ebay) arrived today. I am so pleased with them! I think that they really lift the router plane's appearance.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/RP2_zpsb7da66e0.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/RP3_zpsf560826e.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/RP1_zps06c5daff.jpg


I plan to post a pictorial shortly.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Chris Griggs]

Great work, Derek!

Maybe they'll make up lost sales in planes in sales of extra irons, and chisels and floats to make the planes . . .

Except that his routers have Lee Valley blades in them. Quite trying to stir up trouble Derek!;)


The new knurled knobs ("brass coupling knobs", from on ebay) arrived today. I am so pleased with them! I think that they really lift the router plane's appearance.



Those look very very nice Derk. You've made some very fine looking tools there. Good stuff!!!

[John W Johnson]

Derek, do you finish your planes? Very nice work, I love the beauty of your woods in that part of the world.

[Matthew N. Masail]

I'm drooling...... the coffin smoother looks great (as do all...). hard the believe you made it all so fast, I guess things don't take long when you know what you are doing...
how does the coffin smoother perform compared to other high end planes?

[Derek Cohen]

Derek, do you finish your planes? Very nice work, I love the beauty of your woods in that part of the world.

Hi John

Thanks.

I finish them in Organoil Danish Oil, which is wiped on and buffed off. This leaves a clear, flat surface that protects a little against moisture and glue. I add a little wax on the running surfaces.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Derek Cohen]

...
how does the coffin smoother perform compared to other high end planes?

Hi Matthew

Your coffin smoother was an excellent job.

Really, if I can make these, then anyone can. You should see the mistakes I make - I seem to spend most of my time fixing them. I am always amazed at the end when the piece looks good. Someone is watching over me!

Both the Krenov and the coffin smoother perform very well. I am happy with their performance so far. Still dialing them in.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/A3_zpsda3459e0.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/A1_zpsd60043cb.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[David Weaver]

All suggestions welcomed.

Derek

Heavy hammer, fast sharpening stones, and ibuprofen.

Starting to look like a production shop!

Wood as nice as that piece of tasmanian blackwood is entitled to become a handplane.

[Jim Stewart]

Hi Derick, I am interested in building one of the router planes. if you can post the source for parts it would be a big help. Not sure what the wobble washer is for one.

Thanks, Jim

[Andrew Bell]

Hi Derick, I am interested in building one of the router planes. if you can post the source for parts it would be a big help. Not sure what the wobble washer is for one.

Thanks, Jim

+1

The router plane and its depth stop look enticing to me as well, eagerly hoping for a writeup on them. Good Stuff

[Mike Allen1010]

Derek,

As always, fantastic work! I am always impressed with your ability to combine great design, execution and efficiency to produce beautiful tools that work extremely well!

I am wondering how you would compare the performance of the Hock iron and chipbreaker at 50° versus the 1 1/4" Mujingfang blades (I'm assuming no chipbreaker?, bedded at 40 degrees-- are the different configurations intended for different types of wood?

Thank you for taking the time to share your work and methods. I have learned a lot from you (my copy of your tutorial on building laminated planes is dogeared and dirty from being used in the shop). Your generosity in sharing your skills and methods is truly a fantastic gift to the woodworking community.

All the best, Mike



really admire how you're able to combine

[Bill Fleming]

Nice work Derek.... Show us your "maker's mark"....

Cheers Bill

[Jeff Wittrock]

I built this coffin smoother today. The body is my favourite Tasmanian Blackwood (similar to Koa). The 1 3/4" iron is a (NOS) J.Herring & Sons, which is laminated and tapered. The body is 6 3/4" long.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Other/LN%20Hand%20Tool%20Event%202013/LNTE6_zpsb88fab11.jpg

Derek

All beautiful tools Derek! I especially love the coffin smoother. I just looks like it invites you to take hold of it and give it a try.

[Derek Cohen]

Nice work Derek.... Show us your "maker's mark"....

Cheers Bill

Hi Bill

I don't have a stamp. The tools I build really should have a mark (although it has never been something I thought to do before now). I can stamp a "DC", or write my name with a scribe ...? Any ideas?

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Palmer]

Unless you've an excellent set of letter stamps or can grave your name tidily, an embossing - name - stamp is definitely the way forward.

[Bill Fleming]

Hi Bill

I don't have a stamp. The tools I build really should have a mark (although it has never been something I thought to do before now). I can stamp a "DC", or write my name with a scribe ...? Any ideas?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hey Derek

I've always thought of a "maker's mark" as a little way of saying "Hi" to the future and for someone beyond you to connect back to the person's hands that carefully made something. Anyway, personally I have never been a fan of stamps and branding irons, I long ago liked the simple hand carved "JK" that James Krenov used. See page 43 of "A Cabinet Maker's Notebook." I also appreciate his quote, "My little mark, when I remember to put it there, is because I have done all the work." After trying a couple alternatives, I settled on a little hand carved lower case "f." In your case a little lower case "dc" might be simple and nice.

Anyway, very nice work, those planes beg to be picked up and used!

Cheers - Bill