Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
wood for plane sole
Phil Joines Krum, Tx
>I want to build some Krenov style planes from mesquite but don't know it it's tough enough for the sole. I will probably laminate something. I'd like to use Blackwood for the contrast but not for the price it's going for now. I do have some Bois D'Arc (osage orange) that was cut about 100 years ago. It's nice and hard :>) and some is large enough to get good pieces. I could also use brass. What do ya'll think?
Re: wood for plane sole
Ted Wong
>I think brass would be out of the Krenov style. I've used Coccobollo, Bocot�, and some other tropical hardwood that escapes me. Lignum would be an excellent choice as would ironwood. I'd stay away from Ebony.
Re: wood for plane sole
steve knight
>cocobolo or a rosewood is good because they are oily and slick. also ipe is cheap and works great too. but unless your knocking off edges you can get away with a less dense wood like your old wood you ahve laying around.
Re: wood for plane sole
VTAndy4
>I just finised a jointer inspired by Krenov's planes. It is all hophornbeam (that's called ironwood in these parts). I spent about 30 minutes planing cherry with it already and the bottom has become burnished, very slick. So if this is what the above poster meant by ironwood, then I think that it's a good choice for a plane sole.
-Andy
Re: wood for plane sole
tom MacGregor
>Beech has traditionally been favored because of it's stability. Tangential and radial shrinkage rates are fairly low and matched closely enough for a wooden plane to remain dimentionally stable throughout seasonal changes in humidity. Mesquite has even better shrinkage rates and has been described as the most stable wood known. It is also described on several vendor's sites as hard and slow-growing. I haven't tried it yet, but asked Clark and Williams about using mesquite for planes. They replied that they thought it would be an excellent choice, but were unable to find a reliable source for the type, size, quantity and quality they would require. I don't know if quartersawn (the prefered cut for beech) would be available or necessary. If anyone tries it I'd like to hear about it.
Mesquite
Phil Joines Krum, Tx
>Mesquite is my favorite. Most of it around here is Screw Bean and grows to about 18" but I found a Honey that was 36" with no cracks or inclutions. It was growing in a sheltered location in town. Cut down to make way for a house. I turn a lot of green bowls from it and they stay round when they dry. Most of the big ones are in southwest Texas and Mexico.
Re: wood for plane sole
Jamey Amrine
>Mesquite is, I'm sure, harder than beech and beech planes have lasted a couple of centuries. It is possible to overthink this stuff.
Re: wood for plane sole
Phil Joines Krum, Tx
>It may not be the way he did them but I don't think it would be that hard. Make the plane in the conventional way, joint off the thickness of the brass, cut the mouth and epoxy it on. Should make the plane last just about forever.
Re: wood for plane sole
Greg B�tit, Vergennes VT
>You were lucky to find a hunk of hardack big enough to make something out of. Where did you find it?
greg
not to be fretted for a user plane
bill tindal, E.TN
>If you are making a plane to use any hard wood will do. I was in Finck's shop (plane making book)and his planes appear to be made from what ever was laying around at the time of need. These are the planes he uses to earn a living. The one he grabbed frequently was made of oak.
My favorite is a small block plane I made of maple and it is doing just fine several years later. Similarly, I visited someone in Canada that makes planes to use and he preferred maple. I concluded it was not important to fret over the optimum wood for plane bottoms.
I regard these planes as disposable. They are easy and cheap to make as needed. If they wear out in 10 years, make another.
Re: wood for plane sole
steve knight
>brass is a bear to make a sole out of. first you have to cut a mortice in it for the mouth. then the worst part is attaching the sole to the plane. epoxy does not stick to brass. don't ask me how I learned this. so you would have to screw the sole to the plane.
exactly
Gary B
>I've read David's book cover to cover a few times, and that's what he stresses, make a plane when you need it, with what you have. I really like that book, now I just need to make some planes :-)
Not nessary
Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA
>Mesquite is one tough wood. I've made 2 spokeshaves out of it. Great stuff!
Re: wood for plane sole
VTAndy4
>Greg,
my friend bought a bunch of leg blanks from Beeken-Parsons up at Shelburne farms. I'm still not done shaping the plane -- will post pics when finished. Pretty wood up close -- especially the heartwood.
-Andy