Shepherd Chariot Kit, a short review

Shepherd Chariot Kit II

Christopher Schwarz

>What I like a lot about this plane are its ergonomics. Doug Evans at Shepherd told me that he started with a Norris design and then developed the shape of the components using a variety of computer and manual methods.

The front bun is the most surprising aspect of the tool. When I first saw it, I raised one eyebrow. It looked a bit odd to me. It didn't have the flowing curves of the sidewalls or wedge.

But after using the plane, I like it. The indentations front and back make it perfect for two-handed use: Thumb behind and forefinger in front. This allows you to apply tremendous pressure when you need it. And when you use the plane one-handed you can comfortably rest your forefinger on top of the front bun.

The wedge is also nice, once you modify the stock wedge a bit. The wedge as it comes has sharp coners. Knock these down with a rasp and file until the wedge feels like a worry-stone in your hand: smooth and comfortable.

What I like about the wedge and the extra-long iron is that they allow you to wrap your pinky and ring finger below them. It's a very comfortable grip.

Continued in the next message....

Shepherd Chariot Kit III

Christopher Schwarz

>In the photo below you can see the one-handed grip.

The plane is remarkably easy to set with a hammer. Usually it takes me only a couple taps to get the iron centered and projecting correctly. Remember to always tap the wedge after tapping the iron.

If I could recommend one modification to the Shepherd people, it would be to sneck the iron on the underside. Because this plane is designed for fine cuts, the snecking would allow you to back the iron out in small increments. As it is, if you set it for too rank a cut you need to dislodge the wedge and start anew. It's a minor point, but I a fan of snecking.

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Shepherd Chariot Kit Final segment

Christopher Schwarz

>Some details on my particular tool:

� Sole lapped to #220 grit on a DMT diamond stone. By the way, small planes are surprisingly easy to do. And good practice.

� All the wood is finished up to #400 grit. The finish is an oil/varnish blend and some paste wax.

� Sidewalls are finished up to #300 grit. Any higher and fingerprints start to show too easily.

� Total build time? I didn't keep careful track. I'd say it was about six to eight hours. I spent a lot of time getting the wedge just like I wanted it.

The Shepherd Chariot is an excellent little kit for a variety of reasons. You get a good lesson in tuning planes: filing the mouth, truing the sole, fitting a wedge and adjusting the tools ergonomics. And the result is a delight to use on edges and for smaller work.

Chris

Excellent, Chris

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>Very helpful info, thank you.

I'm planning to make a panel plane from Doug and Ben sometime. Have you done one of those, yet?

Best, Ted

Re: Shepherd Chariot Kit, a short review

Roger Nixon

>Thanks Chris!

I'm looking at getting a better block plane for fine work. Would you recommend this plane for that type application?

Nice Review

dave jeske

>Thanks Christopher for the nice pictures and review. It looks like a fun plane to make and a nice one to have handy for detail work.

I really like the panel

Christopher Schwarz

>Ted,

The panel plane remains my favorite of all the ones I've built. In fact, it really was the tool that started steering me more toward the bigger planes. I now use the panel, a #7 and a #5-1/2 for a shockingly large amount of surface prep. Smoothers are at just the very end (if at all).

The panel kit was easy to build. The sole was a real challenge to true. It's too big to do on most home equipment. I ended up taking it to a machinist friend and (for a 12-pack of microbrew) he took it to mil-spec flattness. Total overkill; but it *was* a 12-pack after all.

Re: Shepherd Chariot Kit, a short review

Christopher Schwarz

>Roger,

It is indeed a good tool for fine cuts, especially trimming edges. I'd put it on your list of choices with the LN 60-1/2 and the Lee Valley Apron Plane. All three have their charms.

Chris

Scott in Douglassville - See!

Greg Sloop

>Sometimes you DO get what you wish for! *grin* I can rest easy now, my idealistic self is now content. There are good honest and ethical people who really care in the world! (Ok, it wasn't that big a deal but I appreciated it!)

For those of you wondering what the heck I'm blathering about, see this thread...

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/handtools.pl?noframes;read=39515

Thanks Chris! I'm not likely to ever be a "sucker" for one of these things, but very nice to see your review.

Excellent post. Thanks again!

Greg

Re: Scott in Douglassville - See!

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Well, now we know there's at least one. ;)

Interesting comment

Andrew F in Australia

>As I haven't used a smoother in about two years - I use a No.6 for almost everything, and a small block plane (HNT Gordon) for the fiddly bits/tearout.

Cheers,

Andrew

Re: Shepherd Chariot Kit Final segment

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont

>Hi Chris,

That was a great read, I am thinking of making one myself, it's a really excellent looking plane!!

Take care,

Jim

Am I the only ham-fisted moron?

Paul M. in San Diego

>Wow Chris, your plane looks great!

I keep seeing beautiful pictures of wonderfully completed Shepherd infills. I tried to make one and I messed the thing up multiple times. I got their littlest thumb plane, and I'm rather ashamed to admit made a total hack of it.

I had a few problems of things bending that shouldn't while the peining is going on, but we're talking about metal and I was able to fix most of these problems by un-bending them. But then I got to the infill process and trashed the front bun while trying to pein the pins that hold in the infill. I've attached a picture to show what I mean.

I'm generally a careful person. I've made lots of delicate and intricate things with my hands in the past. But something about putting a ball-pein hammer in my hands and smashing at metal and I just don't know when to stop. I guess that this just isn't an activity that I was cut out for.

To their credit, Shepherd tools has offered to replace any damaged parts. This would consist of only a couple of pins that I would have to drill out. But I got to the point where I just wasn't having fun anymore, so I chucked it back in it's box to let it rot.

Hey Ernie, are you still looking for drawer-pulls??? ;-)

Re: Am I the only ham-fisted moron?

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>Paul,

I think you have lots of company. Many metal working techiques are IME different from woodworking techniques. Precision is more of an issue, and there is also the matter of toleration for all the oil and metal particles. I think metal working just requires a different attitude.

I hate working metal. I can do it and often have to do it to remanfacture inadequate initial construction or to create custom parts or modifications, but I definitely don't think it is fun. Frankly, I did not one bit enjoy making my Shepherd smoother, except for some of the final wood shaping and finishing.

But I am also aware that many, many individuals (often with minimal metal skills and interest) have found great satisfaction in the act of producing their own plane, the opportunities it offers to create custom modifications, and/or just having the knowledge that they created their own plane. For many, it makes ownership of an infill plane achievable. I know you know this.

So while I doubt I will ever set out to make another kit, I am really quite thrilled that such things exist and enjoy seeing the results. I just know it is not any fun for me, and that I'm not very good at it either.

Re: Am I the only ham-fisted moron? *LINK*

Christopher Schwarz

>Paul,

The hardest part is indeed the peening. My first dovetails in my smoother were decent -- nothing to write home about but nothing to be ashamed of.

After doing it once, however, every other plane has been a snap. Part of the difference is likely a bit of experience. But I also now use punches to drift the steel into any gaps that persist. And I picked up a couple peening tricks from Wayne Anderson (see the link below from Russ Allen's excellent site).

Filing a gullet in the protruding joints as Wayne does adds about 15 minutes to your build time but it also greatly reduces glancing bows. And that's what I suspect was part of your difficulty.

And Wayne's method of attending to gaps works well, too.

Wayne's dovetails are wicked-tight, by the way. Check out his gallery at http://www.andersonplanes.com

Also, I haven't built the thumb plane, so it might have its own set of challenges I'm unaware of.

Chris


Tricks to Peening

Re: Am I the only ham-fisted moron?

Ben Knebel

>Hi Paul;

I hate to see this happen to anyone--building the plane should be a joy not a frustration.

Our offer still stands---we'll send you a whole new kit --gratis--if you want to try again.

Alternatively--if you are willing to wait awhile---I'll build you one and send it along.

Regards

Ben

Re: Am I the only ham-fisted moron?

Paul M. in San Diego

>Thanks Ben for your gracious offer. I am indeed aware of how you stand behind your products and I went out of my way not to blame you or the product for my failure. That sits upon my shoulders alone.

I didn't particularly want the thumb plane in the first place, I just wanted the kit to try something new to see if I liked it. The price was too low to pass by, as I just couldn't get myself to put down enough $ for a smoother kit. This was a rather cheap lesson to learn that I just don't like working with metal. I just wanted to find out if there were any others like myself on this board, and I found that Lyn is of like mind (but with better 1st pass success).

So I'll decline your offer for the repairs or for a completed replacement. I hesitated posting this my picture in the first place, as I thought this would be your response. I'll also fade away on this subject as I don't want to be a recurring pain in your side.

I'm still interested in having a good smoother someday, but I'll be buying one that's already been made by someone who knows what they're doing (not by me!). Your company is still in the short list of vendors that I'll be using for this purchase. I'm hoping you produce a 50-degree angle adjusterless smoother before I pull the trigger.

OOOH, no, not at all

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I haven't tackled an infill project yet, but I've broken a good many things in my life through good intentions overcoming insufficient skill, experience, or judgment.

I admire your courage in posting the picture, and your nobility in turning down Ben's offer in a later post.

Re: Am I the only ham-fisted moron?

Paul Kierstead

>Mr. Paul M., you are a gentleman of rare qualities in this day and age. To admit your mistake, refuse to allow others to take responsibility for it and post a picture of it requires courage rarely found. Extraordinarily commendable.

Now git ur ass in gear and make that plane! :)