>I said I have to build two pieces of furniture for each tool. Well, I was moving right along with shop stuff - got the bench planed back to flat, gathered up all the chisels & plane irons with flat bevels from being honed too much & put a fresh hollow grind on them, and then started generally just straightening up the shop. When I got to the partially done Shepherd infill bullnose kit I thought "I'll just fiddle with it for a few minutes". Well, a few minutes turned into an hour and a half and it ended up done.
I've gone out to my shop just to putter for a few minutes and ended up staying out there for 12 hours or so before. funny how time flies when you're having fun eh?
>I have trouble estimating how long something takes because, like most hobbiests, I have to grab a few hours here and there. I'd say 8 to 10 hours. The instructions say it should take about 4 hours, which is incredibly optimistic. I've made two infill shoulder planes (back when Hoosier Tools was selling kits) so I understand the process and think I work reasonably fast. I don't think you could do it in four hours unless you'd built a half dozen and did all the cleanup after peening with machine tools. I did it entirely by hand (ball pein hammer, files, and sandpaper) except for the tenons on the nose piece. You're supposed to create the tenons with a file and I had no confidence that I could do it accurately so I used my mill.
I take about four hours. I have built about 6 of these and use machines for finish work.
When I first read 1 1/2 hours there, I thought "How is that possible?"
I would have to say that our Sam Simpson would have to be the fastest first-time builders (shoulder) I have ever witnessed. He would probably build his second plane faster than our production rate.
I will admit that my claimed 4 1/2 hours shoulder times are not realistic for a first time builder without a stationary sander. Most people are taking 8 1/2 hours... There... I've said it! Didnt I do this a couple of months ago?
>This is almost a Chat Room (conversation is moving so fast). I caught your last message just after I finished that reply. The plane looks good though and it is a serious challenge - we prototyped it four itterations. I would consider the shoulder easier.
I intend to build chariots on our road trip (seminars in NJ, NY, VA) this month, while Ben talks - let's hope he can talk for awhile!
We are greatly looking forward to your visit to the Central Jersey Woodworkers Association in just about 2 weeks. For those interested, here is the meeting announcement, just a bit early:
CJWA Meeting Set for January 14th:
On Wednesday January 14, 2004, the Shepherd Tool Co. will be visiting the CJWA with a presentation entitled "A Dovetailed Hand Plane Talk". The meeting will run from 7-10PM and be held at the Old Brick Reformed Church, Marlboro, NJ, in the small building located behind the church.
Doug Evans and Ben Knebel, principles of the Ontario, Canada-based Shepherd Tool Co. will provide a discussion about the most famous of woodworking planes, the "infill plane". The discussion will cover topics including infill plane history, types of infill planes, advantages of the infill plane and performance demonstrations.
During the presentation, Mr. Evans intends to file, forge dovetails, and install the supporting infill wood in a chariot block plane for the benefit of the membership audience. Thus, during this CJWA meeting, we will feature a demonstration of how one actually constructs an infill plane! Even if you never think you'll ever want to try making such a plane, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
The CJWA is a nonprofit membership organization that promotes high-quality woodworking in the central New Jersey area. General meetings are held 8-10 times a year on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and feature top speakers including well-known woodworkers. Our meetings are held at the Old Brick Reformed Church located on Route 520, approximately one-quarter of a mile east from the intersection of Routes 520 & 79. For more information please see the club website at http://www.cjwa.org or contact either Lee Alexander at president@cjwa.org or John Aniano at vp@cjwa.org.
We are at LIWW Club on Jan. 17th (there are about ten or eleven guys building there). The day starts with a seminar.
Lee Richmond of The Best Things has set us up to speak to the club in Virginia on the 18th. Ben set this up, so I will have to get an exact venue and time.
The whole thing is geared to build demonstration, so if you have an interest in how this all goes down, and you're in the neighbourhood, I will get the whole "skinny".
2004 is a different year for us in that we are basically going direct with the kits. Simple stuff: High Repeat Business in kits = Drop Kit Prices to hit volume on entry level + Break down fear factor of Building + Reduce strain on build capacity. We are banking on reduced entry price and heightened exposure to the process.
>There's a good possibility I can be in the area of Lee's Sunday meeting. I'll have to find out where it is. SWMBO's apartment is only a couple of miles from The Best Things' old address. That way, I might actually get to watch the whole process.
