German Style Smoothing Plane.

[Stewie Simpson]

The following Smoothing Plane has been sitting in my workshop for the last 5yrs waiting for an opportunity to be fettled in and put to use. Today was that day. The sole of the plane needed a light dressing back, the irons wooden bed and wedge abutments were received a fettled in, and the double iron was de-rusted and prepped for use. The sole of the plane then received a rubbing of wax and was put to use on a short length of wedge stock that needed to be hand thicknessed down from 1" to 5/8". Thick or whisper thin shavings, this smoothing plane managed it effortlessly. This post should be treated as a kindly reminder that you don't need to spend a lot of money on a premium brand bench plane.

Stewie;

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/German%20smoothing%20plane/_DSC0132_zpska8qcyof.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/German%20smoothing%20plane/_DSC0132_zpska8qcyof.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/German%20smoothing%20plane/_DSC0133_zps38bsuzuy.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/German%20smoothing%20plane/_DSC0133_zps38bsuzuy.jpg.html)

[ken hatch]

Stewie,


Nice, I find the German style horned planes the most comfortable to use and at least here in the States very cheap.

ken

[Trevor Goodwin]

Looks like Tassie Oak Stewie? A beautiful wood to plane. I have a plane needing similar treatment, what did you do to the sole?

[Marc Burt]

I agree. I have, and use, a couple Primus planes that I guess can't be classified as cheap but also have the Gents Plane that LV used to sell. (Maybe they still do I'm too lazy to look) I think I paid $40 for it when I bought it. That little plane is my go to for quick work. I find the ergonomics of the horn much better than a bailey style knob and the slickness of wood on wood can't be beat.

[Terry Beadle]

I have a German Primus English Pattern Jack Plane that I bought years ago to help with flattening my rock maple bench top.
It worked great once I got over the learning curve on how to set the blade, and how to adjust the tension spring.

It works great as a jack and with the very good blade setting capability, it can be used as a super smoother ( ala David Charlesworth's technique with a #5 ).

The steel is very good and keeps an edge through most of my projects and is fairly quick to hone back to top form.

Highland Hardware was the source and is currently priced at about $270 with tax or so.

The sole needs very little maintenance and I just use a card scraper to tune it back to needs. Maybe do that once a year just for giggles.

Enjoy!

[Jim Belair]

Lovely golden patina on the wood of that plane, and a good thick iron.

[Stewie Simpson]

Not too bad for my 1st attempt at shaping a German front horn. English Walnut. Left handed plane. Next on the list is to place an order for a quality brand German parallel double iron.

The tote is just sitting in position for the photo. The front of the planes main stock will be stepped down to receive the tote, no different to the other German plane I recently refurbished.

The tote will be glued into position.

Titebond No-Run, No-Drip provides a strong initial tack and fast speed of set, yet allows realignment of working pieces. It also develops a bond stronger than the wood itself, offers excellent sandability and is unaffected by finishes.




http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0136_zpszivulbgh.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0136_zpszivulbgh.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0135_zpswfe96ybk.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0134_zpsaicx6ull.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0134_zpsaicx6ull.jpg.html)

[Allen Jordan]

Very nice shaping. Is that horn sitting in a mortise? Otherwise, the glue joint will mostly be end grain to long grain.

I have an E.C.E. primus jack that is a bit strange to adjust but works really well for roughing. It's one of the few planes that I bother to camber, and it can do some serious hogging.

I also have a more traditional german "Holzhobel", but with a lever cap instead of a wedge, and an adjustable mouth. It had a heavy varnish on it that was flaking off. I planed/scraped/sanded it away and refinished with BLO. It's very comfortable to hold:

http://i.imgur.com/NiCtM44.jpg

The chipbreaker is really thick and heavily curved, and it bends the iron when tightened. But it doesn't seem to affect performance... works great in testing so far.

[Pat Barry]

Is that typical for a horn to be just glued to endgrain? I would have guessed a dovetail slot that the handle fits into. Kees?

[Michael J Evans]

Is that typical for a horn to be just glued to endgrain? I would have guessed a dovetail slot that the handle fits into. Kees?

I have a scrub plane with the horn style handle. It looks to sit in a sliding dovetail that is glued.

[Kees Heiden]

Yes Michael is right. It sits in a sliding dovetail and the bottom in a round mortise.

[Derek Cohen]

Ditto to sliding dovetail.

I built one of these some years ago :)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/Inset%20Planes/10.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Stewie Simpson]

Derek; that laminated jointer decided to have little babies.

I have a test glue up prepared. Matching grains and wood types. I will check it tomorrow morning.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0137_zpsaoe6allw.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0137_zpsaoe6allw.jpg.html)

[george wilson]

Indeed: I have seen those planes with the horn removed, came loose, fell out, or whatever. They do have a sliding dovetail to hold them to the body.

Seems like a well fitted dovetail plus glue ought to offer good strength.

[Stewie Simpson]

The end grain to long grain Titebond Glue test proved reasonably strong, but doubts remained whether the joint would fail over the long term with seasonal movement. The decision was made to mortise in a Jarrah dovetail keyway with outside facing long gain. That will achieve a later long grain to long grain glue joint when the front horn is permanently glued in position with Hide Glue. I went ahead and ordered a 1 5/8" double iron from LN. There was just way too much hassle trying to purchase a double iron of that width from ECE in Germany. I will hold off any further progress until the new double iron arrives in the post.

Dovetail key after being glued into position.
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0138_zpstykoctjt.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0138_zpstykoctjt.jpg.html)

Test fit with the front horn.
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0139_zps9ogsnd4d.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0139_zps9ogsnd4d.jpg.html)

[Pat Barry]

Nice work!

[Stewie Simpson]

Thanks Pat.

[Terry Beadle]

Ditto "Great Work!"

Can't wait to see the test shavings....hoot!

[Allen Jordan]

Neat technique, Stewie.

I used my ECE plane yesterday flattening some apple wood:

http://i.imgur.com/4T7gxzL.jpg

[Stewie Simpson]

Still waiting for the new double irons to arrive. I completed the rear bun and shaped the back end of the plane stock. I also added the front end bevels and the makers stamp. 1.5 tonnes of hydraulic pressure was needed to achieve a good imprint on Australian Jarrah end grain. I still need to remove the excess paint fill with a card scraper. I will do the wooden wedge and abutment block tomorrow. The sole length of this smoothing plane is 10 inches.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0148_zpsalihrkks.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0148_zpsalihrkks.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0147_zpseyiyj8th.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0147_zpseyiyj8th.jpg.html)

[Stewie Simpson]

Completed the 1st stage of mortising out. (Outside the wedge abutment line and to a depth above the top line of the wear angle.) This cautious approach on initial depth reduces the likelihood of breaching the 2 targeted bevel angles. The pilot holes through the mouth were done on a pedestal drill with the tool rest locked in at a 95 degree angle. The double irons arrived in the post.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0149_zpsczutnq2l.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0149_zpsczutnq2l.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0150_zpsspxkiw18.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0150_zpsspxkiw18.jpg.html)

[John Kananis]

That plane is going to be beautiful...Awesome craftsmanship.

[Stewie Simpson]

The 2nd stage of mortising out has been completed. A Dremel fitted with a spiral cutter was used to break through the mouth opening. The wear height was set at 3/4".

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0151_zpsg0baj0zc.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0151_zpsg0baj0zc.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0152_zps18isrtr1.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0152_zps18isrtr1.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0153_zpshczw90wn.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0153_zpshczw90wn.jpg.html)

[Stewie Simpson]

The 3rd stage of mortising out has the wedge abutments been formed. The double irons + wooden wedge have also been fettled in. The last photo shows the rear bun sitting in position behind the bed.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0154_zpsctmbdbxo.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0154_zpsctmbdbxo.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0155_zpsk20wni7c.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0155_zpsk20wni7c.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0156_zpsxgdirxnf.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0156_zpsxgdirxnf.jpg.html)

[Archie England]

Truly awesome! I'm wishing for that level of skill and/or confidence...

[Stewie Simpson]

Near completion. The side cheeks have been flared out and the eyes shaped in. All 4 sides of the plane stock flat sanded to 220 grit. The rear bun has been Hide Glued into position. The decision was made to make up a new front horn with some design changes. Those changes include a 180 degree dowel fit- stopped mortise and tenon joint on the heel. At this stage the new front horn has been roughly shaped ready for fine tuning work with finely stitched Logier Rasps. That will be completed tomorrow ready for gluing in. The 3rd photo shows my earlier attempt at shaping a German shaped front horn. (tote)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0157_zpsgmax23ks.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0157_zpsgmax23ks.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0158_zpslsfptsdn.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0158_zpslsfptsdn.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0148_zpsalihrkks.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0148_zpsalihrkks.jpg.html)

[Allen Jordan]

Wow, that's coming along great Stewie. It will work great with a new double iron.

[Stewie Simpson]

The front horn is finally hide glued into position. I will allow the glue harden for 48hrs before I apply the 1st of 3 coats of Danish Oil.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0159_zpsufmbtefj.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0159_zpsufmbtefj.jpg.html)

[Pat Barry]

Near completion. The side cheeks have been flared out and the eyes shaped in. All 4 sides of the plane stock flat sanded to 220 grit. The rear bun has been Hide Glued into position. The decision was made to make up a new front horn with some design changes. Those changes include a 180 degree dowel fit- stopped mortise and tenon joint on the heel. At this stage the new front horn has been roughly shaped ready for fine tuning work with finely stitched Logier Rasps. That will be completed tomorrow ready for gluing in. The 3rd photo shows my earlier attempt at shaping a German shaped front horn. (tote)


http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0157_zpsgmax23ks.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0157_zpsgmax23ks.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0158_zpslsfptsdn.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0158_zpslsfptsdn.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0148_zpsalihrkks.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0148_zpsalihrkks.jpg.html)

I missed this yesterday Stewie. Did you change from the dovetailed approach for the front tote? If so, I am not quite following what you described as a "a 180 degree dowel fit- stopped mortise and tenon joint on the heel". Would happen to be able to show a picture or two of what you came up with? Thanks

[Stewie Simpson]

Pat; if you have a look at the previous photo's I carved a 1/4" deep -1/2 round (180*) tenon on the bottom surface of the front tote. A matching mortise was then cut to seat this tenon prior to glue up. A vertical face of long grain was also dovetailed into the vertical wall that the tote is seated against. By doing so, I was able to change the gluing surface from long grain to end grain to long grain to long grain. Ideal gluing surface. Combined, both actions taken should provide enough strength to accommodate the pressure placed upon the front tote during service. My apologies for not taking a photo of the tenon mortise prior to glue up. It would have made it easier for the reader to follow.

Stewie;

[Pat Barry]

Pat; if you have a look at the previous photo's I carved a 1/4" deep -1/2 round (180*) tenon on the bottom surface of the front tote. A matching mortise was then cut to seat this tenon prior to glue up. A vertical face of long grain was also dovetailed into the vertical wall that the tote is seated against. By doing so, I was able to change the gluing surface from long grain to end grain to long grain to long grain. Ideal gluing surface. Combined, both actions taken should provide enough strength to accommodate the pressure placed upon the front tote during service. My apologies for not taking a photo of the tenon mortise prior to glue up. It would have made it easier for the reader to follow.

Stewie;
Thanks Stewie. I appreciate the additional explanation. That will be one very very nice plane! Congratulations on stellar work.

[lowell holmes]

I have a wooden Steve Knight jointer plane that is 24" long. The jointer is made of cocobolo.

[Stewie Simpson]

Thanks Stewie. I appreciate the additional explanation. That will be one very very nice plane! Congratulations on stellar work.

Thanks Pat; appreciate the feedback

Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

3 coats of Danish Oil was applied over a 24hr period. Both the cap iron and cutting iron were then honed to a steeper secondary bevel. A light camber was worked to the cutting edge. A fine grit Norton Carborundum Oilstone 1st, followed by a finer grit Arkansas Oilstone. The Smoothing Plane was then rigorously tested on Australian Jarrah taking both thick to lighter shavings. The plane performed exceptionally well with both types of shaving. The shaping of the planes front horn and rear bun mould very nicely within the hands during use . Job done.


Stewie;

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0165_zpsbe9jxlo9.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0165_zpsbe9jxlo9.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0163_zpsplsfqy7y.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0163_zpsplsfqy7y.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0162_zpssn4k5lv5.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/german%20plane%20build/_DSC0162_zpssn4k5lv5.jpg.html)

[Kees Heiden]

Nice one Stewie. I apreciated the build thread, and it is nice to see another model plane being made.

[Michael J Evans]

Stewie,
Is the rear bun a traditional thing on this style of plane?
The reason I ask is I have a peugot freres Scrub plane that is continental? Style that lacks the rear bun. I place my hand in the same spot the bun would be and after a while it can become painful, from the plane blade jabbing into the Web between the thumb and forefinger.

Btw plane looks great.

[Kees Heiden]

The rear bun is a later addition to this style of planes, when men became less hardy and started to hurt their softened little hands :D

In practice you learn quickly enough to keep the web of your hand a bit further away from the blade, just like when using a coffin plane.

[Stewie Simpson]

Nice one Stewie. I apreciated the build thread, and it is nice to see another model plane being made.

Thanks Kees.

[Stewie Simpson]

Michael; appreciate the feedback. Kees would be the ideal person to cover the inherent variations in wooden plane design from the U.K, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

Stewie;

[Kees Heiden]

Wolfgang Jordan is the expert on German planes. From his website:

Handschoner
Der Handschoner, der die den Hobel schiebende Hand vor dem Kontakt mit dem Eisen schützt, ist erst seit etwa 1920 üblich. Aber auch danach wurden noch Hobel ohne Handschoner gefertigt. Maßgebend dafür waren neben dem Preisunterschied auch die unterschiedlichen Vorlieben der Handwerker. Zum Handschoner gibt es verschiedene Patente, z. B. von der Badischen Holzwerkzeugfabrik (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/badische.phtml) CH0000039758 (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/patent/hobel_ch.phtml%23A39758A) (Schweiz 1907), von Esslinger & Abt (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/famos.phtml) CH0000058255 (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/patent/hobel_ch.phtml%23A58255A) (Schweiz 1912), von der Laupheimer Werkzeugfabrik (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/steiner.phtml) AT0000118886 (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/patent/hobel_at.phtml%23A118886B) (Österreich 1930), von F. W. Emmerich (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/hersteller/ece.phtml) DE0000556781A (https://archive.is/o/aejKm/www.holzwerken.de/museum/patent/hobel_de.phtml%23A556781) (Deutschland 1932). Das Patent der Laupheimer Werkzeugfabrik beinhaltet einen abnehmbaren Handschoner, um auch die älteren Handwerker zufriedenzustellen, die diese Neuerung nicht gewohnt sind.


This means to say that these handprotectors are in use since 1920 or so. The oldest patent he could find is from 1907 from a Swiss company.

The front horn goes back to at least the middle ages. The shape and how it was attached to the plane block evolved quite a bit over that period. A famous example can be found on the drawing from Duerer, Melancholica from 1514.

[Michael J Evans]

The rear bun is a later addition to this style of planes, when men became less hardy and started to hurt their softened little hands :D


Lol thanks kees. :)