Lapping chisel and iron backs

Ah, what to buy next?

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>The perennial question as we start out. I think the answer is, "what do you want to do?" If you're making casework, a rabbet or shoulder plane is what you need; if more sculptural, you really need a spokeshave (and possibly drawknife). Think about (and talk here about) what you'd like to pursue next, and it will lead you to what, if anything, to buy next.

Or, you can see just how far your existing tools will take you, test their limits, see where you get frustrated, and buy a tool for that frustration.

Keep in mind that a lot of classic furniture was built with a very limited toolkit.

Re: Lapping plate sheets

Rob in Ontario

>Hi Gerry

Lee Valley has adhesive backed plastic laminate sheets that take the wear so your plate will not have to. I've used them with silicon carbide grit on planes, plane blades, and chisels with great results. LV #05M20.11.

Have fun with your shavings bug, I do.

Rob

Re: Lapping chisel and iron backs

Steve Kubien

>I would be thinking about a jointer or a plow plane. With a plow, you can make all the rabbet's your heart and work desire plus you'll be able to cut dados as well (also mouldings if you have the irons).

A good pair of rip and crosscut saws, tenon saw, dovetail saws.....Oh man, saws are a very slippery slope indeed for some of us.

Have fun,

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario

remove the _9 to email

What to buy next?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I tend to keep it simple I buy what ever tool presents it's self at a reasonable price. If I don't have it all ready I keep it if I do I keep the best user not necessarly the best plane. and sell all the rest so I have money to persue my endevers. Over the last year or so I have amassed quite a war chest but the bottom feeder in me won't allow me to buy tools that are over priced or I just really dont need. I'm a user not a collector.

Re: Lapping chisel and iron backs

R.J.Whelan

>Gerry ... A Cabinet Makers Notebook and The Impractical Cabinetmaker by James Krenov and The Soul of a Tree by George Nakashima.

rj

Re: Lapping chisel and iron backs

deanj

>The next purchase -- lumber. Now that may sound silly, but it's not. You'll know what you *need* next if you build something. Pick a project, go get that lumber and make something. The rest will fall right into place.

-Dean

Re: Lapping chisel and iron backs *LINK*

Tim of San Leandro

>"what would be the next unduly expensive purchase? "

Take a visit to Steve Knight's website. It is a hand planer's candy store :-)

I've got 3 of his planes and they are wonderful....a 24 inch jointer (get a 30 inch or so if you decide on a jointer), a coffin smoother at 50 degrees and small plane at 60 degrees. They cut wonderfully through figured black walnut. I've not tried them out anything more difficult, yet.


http://www.knight-toolworks.com

Re: Lapping chisel and iron backs

Alan Hamilton

>Jerry,

"Next? having acquired a Stanley block, Bailey Smooth, Anant Jack, and assorted chisels and saws, what would be the next unduly expensive purchase?"

I would think a good tool chest. If you have one already, then I think a good bench should be next. Benches are very important tools. I didn't realize how important until I got one.

Alan