Bill Moser
09-14-2008, 2:35 PM
It's a krenov-style block plane, about 7 1/2" long, made from some scraps I had laying around. I included a pic not to show off my newbie planemaking skills, but rather the wood itself. The sides are from a 15' tall "stump" I cut down when clearing the roadway my camp in northern VT. I think its maple. The end of the log looked interesting, so I flitch cut it, and found it to be even better on the inside. Not spalted exactly, but definitely changed from when it was a living tree. Its beautiful, easy to work, and silky when planed.
In the process of making the plane, I ended up with a couple of questions that I hope others more experienced than myself can help me out with:
1) Pins vs cheeks: In a recent post here (forget the thread) someone referred to this site: http://linuxplane.awardspace.com/index.html. Unlike the Krenov method for securing the wedge and iron assembly, the method here is to emulate the 18 century style, with glued up cheeks supporting securing the wedge. With the two krenov planes I've made, the pin takes up lots of space, and seems contribute to shavings clogging up the plane. Also, having no power tools, it takes quite a while to make the pin, and marking its locaton takes more work than I'd like. Does anyone have experience with the "linux plane" technique? I'm thinking of trying it next, since it looks easier to do, and it also looks like it will result in shavings clearing easier.
2) Adjustable mouths: I ended up with the opening on my plane a little too big. It does ok, but can't take super fine shavings easily. I was thinking of doing the usual technique of cutting out a small region in front of the blade and gluing in an insert. Then I thought, why not screw it in with two small screws instead of gluing, and slot the insert so I can adjust the mouth. Its a little ugly, but it seems like it should work. Anyone have any thought on this?
TIA for whatever advice anyone can offer...
In the process of making the plane, I ended up with a couple of questions that I hope others more experienced than myself can help me out with:
1) Pins vs cheeks: In a recent post here (forget the thread) someone referred to this site: http://linuxplane.awardspace.com/index.html. Unlike the Krenov method for securing the wedge and iron assembly, the method here is to emulate the 18 century style, with glued up cheeks supporting securing the wedge. With the two krenov planes I've made, the pin takes up lots of space, and seems contribute to shavings clogging up the plane. Also, having no power tools, it takes quite a while to make the pin, and marking its locaton takes more work than I'd like. Does anyone have experience with the "linux plane" technique? I'm thinking of trying it next, since it looks easier to do, and it also looks like it will result in shavings clearing easier.
2) Adjustable mouths: I ended up with the opening on my plane a little too big. It does ok, but can't take super fine shavings easily. I was thinking of doing the usual technique of cutting out a small region in front of the blade and gluing in an insert. Then I thought, why not screw it in with two small screws instead of gluing, and slot the insert so I can adjust the mouth. Its a little ugly, but it seems like it should work. Anyone have any thought on this?
TIA for whatever advice anyone can offer...