Justin Ludwig
04-01-2018, 4:54 PM
Over the past couple years I've been developing a neander-itch that just seems to worsen the less I scratch it. There are no sources locally for finding planes or saws that in a condition worth restoring. I don't want to spend a lot of money by purchasing online. I made a post a few months back about a #6 Union I found while I was out of town - it cost me $30 or $40. That's the only decent find and I was 180 miles from the house. After perusing the local pawn shops, thrift stores, garage sales, etc. and not having any luck I decided to just make my own. I read Finck's book and decided to dive in...
I've had some bois d'arc I've been toting around since October '05 when I cut a tree in want of wood to build some bows and walking sticks. I made a bow in 2010 with the wood. I made numerous walking sticks for friends and family. Since 2010 I haven't done anything with it. It's been looking at me from the corner of the shop... taunting me.
382863
I bought some O1 steel from MSCdirect(dot)com. A 3/16 x 2 x 18 and a 3/16 x 2.5 x 18. In hind site I should have bought 1/4 or 5/16 thick as I plan to make a set of bevel up planes. I used some of it to make a dowel plate. I have access to a hardening oven and a tempering oven: 20 minutes at 1500 with an oil quench and 2 hours at 400 got me a hardness of RC55. I also have access to a Brown & Sharpe Micromaster grinder, so the iron is flat ground at 25* primary. I put a 30* secondary bevel on the iron. Final dimenions are 3/16 x 1 3/8 x 2 1/2
382865 382866
Here's the plane... I cheated and used screws instead of dowels because I hadn't made the dowel plate at that point.
382867 382868 382869 382870
Learning points:
1) I cut the plane on the miter saw and didn't reference a perfectly square edge. The mouth is just slightly more open on one side as a result.
2) I'm not sure if the 1/4" dowel will hold up long term - though this wood is hard as nails and the dowels are 95% heart wood.
3) I drilled the holes for the cross pin too high. It's hard for me to tap the iron unless I reshape the plane and then it will look a little funny.
4) I freaked out a little as I couldn't get the wedge to hold the iron down at first. I had not oiled the plane and I suppose the dust was not allowing the wedge to get a good bite against the iron.
I've had some bois d'arc I've been toting around since October '05 when I cut a tree in want of wood to build some bows and walking sticks. I made a bow in 2010 with the wood. I made numerous walking sticks for friends and family. Since 2010 I haven't done anything with it. It's been looking at me from the corner of the shop... taunting me.
382863
I bought some O1 steel from MSCdirect(dot)com. A 3/16 x 2 x 18 and a 3/16 x 2.5 x 18. In hind site I should have bought 1/4 or 5/16 thick as I plan to make a set of bevel up planes. I used some of it to make a dowel plate. I have access to a hardening oven and a tempering oven: 20 minutes at 1500 with an oil quench and 2 hours at 400 got me a hardness of RC55. I also have access to a Brown & Sharpe Micromaster grinder, so the iron is flat ground at 25* primary. I put a 30* secondary bevel on the iron. Final dimenions are 3/16 x 1 3/8 x 2 1/2
382865 382866
Here's the plane... I cheated and used screws instead of dowels because I hadn't made the dowel plate at that point.
382867 382868 382869 382870
Learning points:
1) I cut the plane on the miter saw and didn't reference a perfectly square edge. The mouth is just slightly more open on one side as a result.
2) I'm not sure if the 1/4" dowel will hold up long term - though this wood is hard as nails and the dowels are 95% heart wood.
3) I drilled the holes for the cross pin too high. It's hard for me to tap the iron unless I reshape the plane and then it will look a little funny.
4) I freaked out a little as I couldn't get the wedge to hold the iron down at first. I had not oiled the plane and I suppose the dust was not allowing the wedge to get a good bite against the iron.