Derek Cohen
04-07-2013, 9:25 AM
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
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