Laminating side esc. molding planes (long ramble)
Dave Mount, northeastern MN
>All�
I�ve developed this huge itch to make side escapement molding planes. This started with the idea of making a pair of match planes, but has since expanded to maybe some hollows and rounds and/or very simple moldings. I�ve been doing a bunch of reading, both books (Dunbar, Whelan, Hack) and on the net (archives of this board and oldtools, Scott Post�s page and others). I�ve learned a ton and feel I have a good understanding of the process and what�s in front of me.
Of all the steps, cutting the wedge mortise is clearly the one that gives me the most trepidation. As a power woodworker moving toward hand tools (not that I�ve sold any power tools. . .yet), and one that plans to (gasp) use power tools in this process where effective, at least initially, my immediate reaction to this issue is to resaw the left side off the plane blank, rejoint the faces, cut the wedge mortise as an open mortise, then reglue. It just seems to me that I have a far better chance of getting the wedge mortise straight, flat, and aligned with the rest of the bed if I do it this way.
However, in my reading I�ve seen lots of disparaging comments relative to laminating planes. Most of these are kind of vague, with some reference to moisture exchange. The only more thorough discussion I�ve seen is on the Clark and Williams page, where they advocate strongly against lamination. From that discussion, I distill three issues: 1) potential for warp from dissimilar movement of dissimilar woods (this seems more in the context of laminated soles on bench planes); 2) potential for delamination from excessive moisture (a historical reference, probably relative to hide glue); and 3) glue line interference with moisture equlibration. While it seems crazy to question opinions from people with their experience and qualifications, I�m left unsure as to whether that really means I shouldn�t build, at least at first, with a lamination approach. The risks they describe seem small compared to the risks of not getting the wedge mortise right, especially if I: 1) resaw the lamination from the same original blank (no dissimilar wood or orientation); 2) use poly glue; and 3) stick to relatively narrow profiles.
So my question (finally) is, is this issue one of 95% versus 100% quality, or am I headed for real disappointment? Again, tempering the decision is my inexperience with making these planes, and also the fact that I don�t have floats, and am anxious to focus my immediate time/money on building planes not making/buying floats (unless that�s penny wise and pound foolish).
So what are folks� thoughts on this? Seems like this must have been discussed at length before, but if you refer me to the archives, it would be a courtesy if you�d steer me to the specific thread (or a way to locate it), because I�ve searched the archives hard with terms as general as �molding plane� and not turned up the right stuff.
Anxious to hear,
Dave
Dave Mount, Two Harbors, MN
