Maurice Metzger
03-11-2006, 2:16 PM
I saw this technique of using a rabbet and block plane to cut a thumbnail profile in an article by Mike Dunbar in the book "Traditional Projects". I had a go at it for practice, as I want to use it for a project. It was a lot of fun. Here's some photos (thumbnails of the thumbnail). Wood was No. 2 pine.
33643
Cutting the rabbet was the easy part, although I didn't take enough care to avoid having the depth stop make an impression on this soft wood. Also my cut wound up going through a small knot.
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Followed up with the block plane. The hard part was knowing when to stop. I'd get pretty good rounding, but trying for something better would give me a flat spot. Also, the sacrificial blocks should have been wider to get good purchase with the sole before getting to the workpiece.
33646
Final results. Quite fun, lots of curly shavings.
33647
LATER...
Some afterthoughts - next time I try this I'll cut the profile into cardboard and use that to check up on the various areas. I'll also try a more systematic approach to the rounding, drawing lines for intermediate chamfers, somewhat like the way boatbuilders round a spar.
- Maurice
33643
Cutting the rabbet was the easy part, although I didn't take enough care to avoid having the depth stop make an impression on this soft wood. Also my cut wound up going through a small knot.
3364433645
Followed up with the block plane. The hard part was knowing when to stop. I'd get pretty good rounding, but trying for something better would give me a flat spot. Also, the sacrificial blocks should have been wider to get good purchase with the sole before getting to the workpiece.
33646
Final results. Quite fun, lots of curly shavings.
33647
LATER...
Some afterthoughts - next time I try this I'll cut the profile into cardboard and use that to check up on the various areas. I'll also try a more systematic approach to the rounding, drawing lines for intermediate chamfers, somewhat like the way boatbuilders round a spar.
- Maurice