Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/21/06, 6:32 PM #1

Bill Tindall, E.TN.
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Superior Utility of Short Planes

bill tindall

>Not to let a good argument wither.....It is time to install molding on this massive Chester Co chest (what I have been incorrectly calling a PA Dutch chest). I want to get the case frame in shape for finish before installing moldings as it is hard to sand/scrape or plane the intersection where things lap, in this case where a complex molding is applied to chest top and bottom. The chest side is a frame and panel and here I am smoothing the panel frame joints with a "Nibbler" (I nibble at things with planes and chisels). My M&T technique is such that some nibbling is required to get the frame joint flat, or at least flat over the 3-4" span that I worry about. Well, it wasn't too bad as that is amount of shavings to level it.

The plane I dashed together for the task. It is Ipe, very stable, abrasion resistant and heavy. (It is also a pain to work with and I may go back to maple) It's bedded at 50 degrees, traditional for a joint nibbling plane. Its currently 8"long and will soon be 7" long as its excessive length bridges over hollows which I find annoying, and tedious to deal with.

The single board panel is partially prefinished.

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/21/06, 10:45 PM #2

Dave Thompson
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Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

Dave Thompson

>Pretty nice Bill for a plane just "dashed" together. So what are the headlight and tighlights on there? is that a holly dowel rod?

How are you doing the moldings? H&R's or routah/shaper?

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/21/06, 11:10 PM #3

Bill Tindall, E.TN.
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they are gone...

bill tindall

>the "headlights" are the alignment dowels to assemble. I cut plane as long as I could to try it. Too long, so it is now 7" and the headlights are gone. Works better at 7" for my needs. If you were to see it up close you would see that it is pretty crude. Sawed to shape with band saw and the corners knocked off with a file. I'll get around to shaping it someday, along with a few other I'll get too's someday.

I have decided to bite bullet and obtain a means of making ogees of size and shape as needed. It is a very common molding on old stuff so making a custom shaper cutter every time I make something is not very practical. I have borrowed some hollows and almost have this molding right. I will order some new hollows as I am fed up with rehab work. I'll make the rounds I need as I can turn the round on the lathe any diameter needed, and grinding iron to fit is easy. I have made one round and it was but slightly harder than this plane. It's fairly ugly but cut well. I haven't figured a way to easily make hollows so I will buy them.

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/22/06, 1:33 AM #4

Don in Northern Arizona
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Bill, How the heck do you make rounds

Don in Northern Arizona

>on a lathe, without having to make a hollow on the plane body to fit it. This is probably extremely obvious, but I a baffled.

Don

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/22/06, 2:40 AM #5

Dan Donaldson
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Re: they are gone...

Dan Donaldson

>Make the rounds, then use the round to make the hollow ;-)

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/22/06, 3:18 AM #6

Don in Northern Arizona
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Ah, the dim bulb brightens. 8-)

Don in Northern Arizona

>

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/22/06, 10:07 AM #7

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI
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Re: Bill, How the heck do you make rounds

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>Not sure how he does it, but I am picturing cutting the turned dowel in half and using it for the bottom of the plane.

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/22/06, 2:12 PM #8

Bill Tindall, E.TN.
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depends on radius

bill tindall

>For larger radi I just mount the plane off center and turn away. Everything is lined up perfect. For small radi where the plane heigth would not accomodate this approach I turn a dowel , split and glue to plane bottom.

This isn't 18 century construction, as that is way beyond my means or patience. But by fabricating pieces, angles, cutouts , curves and the like with machines it all goes quickly enough to not be an impediment to geting a tool to do the job. Blanks for irons get made when we send other stuff for heat treating.

I am in awe of the people on this forum that recreate old tools but I don't have the skill or patience for it.

Re: Superior Utility of Short Planes

4/22/06, 5:11 PM #9

John in NM
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Re: Thats an Atlas right?

John in NM

>I've got a Craftsman version of one of those.

John

Superior Utility of Short Planes

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