Planemaker's tools *LINK*

Re: Planemaker's tools

Todd Stock


>I bought floats from Larry in the late 90's similar to 3 & 4. they are definitely nice for shaping the wedge area on smoothers. If the LN tools are anything similar, it's a no-brainer.

I've seen them

Dave Anderson Chester, NH


>I was up at the L-N 25th Anniversary celebration the weekend before last and asked about them. Tom told me he had just made his first shipment to Larry and Bill. I got to see them and handle them. Well, there goes some more money down the chute.

:-) JR

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

Re: I've seen them

VTAndy4


>So, which are essential for a beginning planemaker?

-Andy

Re: I've seen them

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX


>None of them are essential for a planemaker. Or, to put it another way, I've made several Japanese dai without any of these tools.

However, if you'll be building relatively thin molding planes and the like, floats would come in real handy for sizing/shaping the abutments because they'll be hard to get to otherwise.

Pam

Re: I've seen them

Brent Smith in Montreal


>Essential or not, I ordered the complete set yesterday. Just can't stop myself when I see something purdy.

Re: I've seen them

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX


>Please don't misunderstand me. Just because they aren't absolutely necessary doesn't mean I don't appreciate how well they're made or the good use to which you could put them. I was simply saying that there are other ways and tools with which you can build very successful planes.

Let us know how they work for you.

Pam

OK which are essential for someone...

VTAndy4


>... who is using floats as part of their technique?

Helpful answers only, please.

-Andy

Re: OK which are essential for someone...

Don in Northern Arizona


>Andy,

I am not an expert, but as Todd said, the first two floats that were offered back in the 90's were #3 and #4. They look the most versatile to me and there is a statement in the description of #3 as follows:

"This is one of the basic and most important plane making floats for bench and molding planes."

Sounds to me like you should buy and #3 and think about adding a #4 to your shopping cart.

HTH,

Don

Re: OK which are essential for someone...

VTAndy4


>Yeah, sounds right to me.

Now: "Hither" or "Thither", that is the question!

-Andy

Re: I've seen them

Brent Smith in Montreal


>No misunderstanding Pam. I was basically agreeing with you. I buy tools sometimes just because they look good, even though I already have 4 different ways of doing the job LOL. Hello, my name is Brent and I'm a toolaholic.

hey neighbor

VTAndy4


>Hi Brent,

I'm in Burlington, VT, so we're practically neighbors... maybe I can stop by for a planemaking lesson when you get those floats?

;)

-Andy

Re: hey neighbor

Brent Smith in Montreal


>Hi Andy

You're welcome here anytime, but the only lessons I'll be giving are teaching myself how to use them.

Re: hey neighbor

VTAndy4


>Ha!

I can't wait to see the planes you'll build. It's probably been some time since there has been a Montreal planemaker!

Re: OK which are essential for someone...

James Watriss


>I was lucky enough to be at a weekend seminar that Larry Williams ran at school over a year ago on molding planes. I got to buy a set of the push-stroke floats, I've been waiting for the pull stroke ones.

I do like the escapement floats. One of hte problems I ran into was how to regularly and reliably cut each abutment at the same angle on a plane that was being cut out of solid stock. On a laminated plane, it's east, you cut it, then assemble. But when you're trying to dig it all out by hand...

The escapement floats will pretty much define the edge angle for you. BUT I've been waiting for pull strong floats, becuase I need something that can be jammed in and pulled out, with the smooth edge facing the bed. There are grain issues doing that with pull stroke floats, because you basically push dents into the fibers.

Escapement floats are a no-muss, no-fuss way of defining your abutment angles.

Re: OK which are essential for someone...

James Watriss


>Whoops... make that edge floats, not escapement floats.

Yeesh... time for more coffee...

Thanks, sounds like a cool seminar!

VTAndy4

Re: OK which are essential for someone...

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX


>Don't you agree that it's only the narrow bladed moulding planes that can cause problems in this area? Wide bladed planes leave lots of room for dealing with mortises (vs laminates), abutments, and the like.

Pam