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Derek Cohen
03-26-2007, 10:44 AM
Well it has taken about 2 1/2 weekends to build this 30" jointer, but it is finally complete and I am very happy with it. I cannot believe that a plane this length can be so comfortable to use (note that a HNT Gordon Trying Plane is 17", a Stanley #7 is 22" and a Stanley #8 is 24" long). It turned out to be relatively light for laminated/solid Jarrah, just 2.25Kg (a tad under 5 lbs).

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Final/JFinal1.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Final/JFinal2.jpg

The iron is a 3/16" Hock that I infilled the slot with brass so that I could use it as a single iron. The bed is 60 degrees. The lever cap is brass, nearly the last of the unusually pink stock I have. This is extremely hard metal. It is polished to direct shavings out of the mouth. The lever cap screw is capped with brass to match. I shaped the side screws out of brass bar.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Final/JLevercapandscrew1.jpg

The razee construction was inspired by some of Steve Knight's work, but overall I see the dominant influence of Terry Gordon.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Final/Jrazeecutout1.jpg

I often wondered what Terry's (HNT Gordon) planes would be like with a tote, so I added one.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Final/JTote1.jpg

The mouth has a brass wear plate. It (the mouth) is very tight at present. I thought I would play with it like this first before opening it wider (as it is, I see this jointer taking fine shavings when truing edges of boards).

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Final/JMouth1.jpg

And, yes, it can make proper shavings. I only had a board of Karri Pine to hand, but it made light work with (in my impatience) a semi-sharp blade.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Final/JShavingscombo1.jpg

I plan to write up a few "how-tos" (would that make it "how three"?) on areas such as constructing a lever cap and cap screws without fancy shmancy equipment.

Hoping you enjoyed this as much as I ...

Regards from Perth

Derek

Jim Becker
03-26-2007, 10:46 AM
Wow...and it can double as a kayak when you want some additional recreation! LOL! Seriously, that's a fine looking tool, Derek!

Tyler Howell
03-26-2007, 10:49 AM
That's a beauty Derek:cool:

Mike Weaver
03-26-2007, 12:38 PM
I plan to write up a few "how-tos" (would that make it "how three"?) on areas such as constructing a lever cap and cap screws without fancy shmancy equipment.

Derek,
Simply awesome!

I'd very much like to see a writeup for making the lever cap & cap screw.

Thanks for sharing!
-Mike

Brian Kent
03-26-2007, 12:46 PM
That is pretty, amazing, and pretty amazing.

Is that made from 8/4 stock and how stable is Jarrah?

Ken Werner
03-26-2007, 2:51 PM
Derek,
As usual, your work is inspiring. Thanks for posting.
Regards to Perth.
Ken

Jonathon Spafford
03-26-2007, 3:31 PM
Awesome... the size of that thing is insane! Gorgeous tool though! You did a fine job making it!

Sandy Masquith
03-26-2007, 4:07 PM
That's just beautiful!!!

I'm curious if you used the new Float Planes from Lie-Nielsen to make the throat? Just an idle thought. I've been staring at those things since they came out thinking how neat they'd be for some projects I have.

Terry Bigelow
03-26-2007, 4:09 PM
Derek,
Simply awesome!

I'd very much like to see a writeup for making the lever cap & cap screw.

Thanks for sharing!
-Mike

Me too, as I too am without "fancy schmancy" tools!

Dominic Greco
03-26-2007, 4:18 PM
Derek,
Seeing your jointer makes me want to build one! BTW, the Jarrah wood is beautiful!

See ya around,
Dominic

Zahid Naqvi
03-26-2007, 4:34 PM
great job Derek. Looking forward to learning from your experience.

Dan Forman
03-26-2007, 4:43 PM
I would very much like to see the construction details as well, esp the levercap. Beautiful plene. How wide is the iron?

Dan

Ron Brese
03-26-2007, 6:23 PM
Derek,

Why did you decide to use a lever cap on this plane in lieu of a traditional wedge? Just curious.

Ron

Matt Chantry
03-26-2007, 6:34 PM
Beautiful plane, Derek. I will add my voice to those clamouring for a how-to on the metal work.

Matt

jonathan snyder
03-26-2007, 8:41 PM
Very nice Derek. If you had a pair of those you could use them as floats on a floatplane!! Seriously, that jarrah is beautiful. Looking forward to the tutorial!

Jonathan

Derek Cohen
03-27-2007, 2:08 AM
Thanks for all the kind works, my friends.

A couple of responses ...

The body is laminated Jarrah (centre and two sides). Its weight is much lower than expected because of the razee design. Here is what it looked like before hand (it was HUGE and HEAVY).

Alongside a Stanley #7

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Gluedupalongside7.jpg

The reason for the lever cap is that it makes it much easier to adjust the blade. You can dial in the exact holding pressure on the blade. The lever cap also acts as a "chip breaker" in what is a narrow mouth opening (the relief side is 75 degrees - very steep!).

The stock? Here is a picture of the laminations as I made the first slice:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/Building%20a%20jointer/Board1.jpg

I believe that the reason the plane works so easily, despite its length, is the razee design - it lowers the centre of gravity way down and makes everything more stable.

I should have the metal work (and more) tutorials up in a week or so. It is all surprisingly easy...

Regards from Perth

Derek

Ron Brese
03-27-2007, 8:31 AM
Derek,

Those were the exact reasons that I thought you would state for using the lever cap in lieu of a wedge. The wedge may easier to make but the lever cap is easier to use, and if constructed correctly performs the same function as a cap iron. Why did you use such steep pitch on a jointer?

Ron

Derek Cohen
03-27-2007, 9:05 AM
Hi Ron

The reason for the steep angle of attack (60 degrees) is that this is needed to deal with much of the hardwoods with which I work. Aussie timber is notorious in this regard - beautiful, but interlinked and prone to tearout unless one uses a high cutting angle. Look at the HNT Gordon range - all 60 degree beds. I envisage this plane for flattening, jointing and finishing long edges. It will take fine shavings, not hog off thick ones. The blade is not particularly wide (2") and the wooden sole is slick. A high cutting angle hardly is noticeable in terms of effort, but is very noticeable in the finish it leaves.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Ron Brese
03-27-2007, 12:42 PM
I thought that the high bed angle was due to a use issue. That's the beauty
of making planes, you can customize them to your particular needs at a particular time of need.

Ron

Don C Peterson
03-27-2007, 1:59 PM
Wow, that is awe inspiring. (now I want one!) And what a piece of luck being able to live in Perth. I visited Perth once while I was in the Marine Corps, and all things considered, that has to be one of my favorite places on earth.

James Owen
03-27-2007, 3:19 PM
Derek,

Nice plane!! That's a beautiful piece of wood, and some very nice wood and metal machining. You've out-done yourself this time around; it's gonna be hard for you to top this one!!

Brett Baldwin
03-29-2007, 1:12 AM
Beautiful tool Derek. I'd love to see the "how-tos" associated with the making of this.

Louis Bois
03-29-2007, 9:43 PM
Nicely crafted Derek. Thst thing reminds me of those old Chris Craft Triple Cockpit Runabouts. I'll bet it works like a charm! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,