Hand planing awkwardly small and thin timber with fish scalers

[Jake Darvall]

Hello,

Share an idea of mine, on how to work awkwardly small or thin pieces of timber by hand plane.

The main concerns for me when it comes to planing is to ensure the timber doesn't shift about, AND that this clamping arrangement doesn't foul the movement of your plane.

Well its easier said than done when planing small pieces I think.....And too hard (at least for me) when the plane is guided by a fence, since pushing on the fence has the tendency to slip the timber out of your dogs or whatever your doing.

So, this is what I've come up with. A fantastic display of accurate jig making :p
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/apricotripper/2w.jpg

Anyway, I'll give an example of how it can be used. See this little piece of scrap off the floor.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/apricotripper/4w.jpg

Well, I get my fish scaler and clamp it to the table one end.

Then, lay the little piece down butting up to the scaler, with the long edge overhanging the table a touch (clearance for your planes fence)
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/apricotripper/6w.jpg

At the other end overhang the end vise face a little, and pin it.....
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/apricotripper/5w.jpg

Support the piece from the side
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/apricotripper/8w.jpg

....and plane away.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/apricotripper/7w.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/apricotripper/3w.jpg

Works very well I've found. Far more reliable I've found than bench dogs (and I've tried both traditional square and round pegs). I rarely use the bench dogs nowdays. And simple.

The concept works well too for some powered router applications too I've found.

There's only one little problem to be aware of...it leaves little pin and teeth marks in the end grain. Usually no problem, since my cross cuts come latter and takes it all away.

An extention of this scaler idea
If you make a left handed fishscaler, as well as the right, it essentially means you don't even need that vise and pin idea either. ie. just a table top, and two fish scalers.

You'd lock one of the scalers, place your timber down on the edge, push the other scaler in tight the other end,,,,,,,, tighten both scalers up......and then to sink the scalers teeth in, you just hammer tap one of the scalers tight......a handy away from home clamping system ? Just chuck a plank onto the ute and use it off sawhorses maybe.

Hope all thats of some use.

[Maurice Metzger]

Jake, that's brilliant. Just the ticket for my outdoor bench, I don't have regular vises as they would rust in the nightly fog here. Time to go into hunter-gatherer mode and get the materials together for two.

Cheers,
Maurice

[Jake Darvall]

Thanks Maurice. Interested in how you go and what you use and what you think. One idea leads to the next you know.....(might be able to pinch an idea from you ;) )

Have a good weekend mate. :)

[Maurice Metzger]

Jake, I'll let you know. For starters I can't weld (a personal failing I know) so I'll use something other than a C-clamp. Probably won't get to the hardware store until this week, I'll see what looks usable.

Maurice

[Jake Darvall]

I can't really weld well either I'm affraid. I've just got a cheap stick welder.

What ever you do I think its ideal you make the thing out of steel, because you want it to remain as thin as possible to keep it from getting in the way of your plane.

But it still has to be strong to take that clamping pressure, so I feel one must use thin steel.....I don't think wood would be strong enough.

Maybe underneath you could tap and bolt on a steel block, and tap another thread into this block for the screw that clamps the jig......more involved though than just welding an old clamp on.

Maybe you can find a welder somewhere to weld it on for you. I imagine it would take him just a few seconds to do.

[paul womack]

Hmm. I think you've half re-invented the "sticking board", used for making small moulding in the "old days".

BugBear

[Jake Darvall]

yep..... my "very best" eh Paul ?..... thank god you didn't say that this time, or I'd feel like throttling ya :D ;) ..... Got anything to add to the idea ? ..... I'm always open to improvements ...its gone through about a dozern changes over the last few years anyway.