Home Made Tools. Fig. 1. — Iron Trying Plane: Longitudinal Section. Fig. 2. — Ditto: Transverse Section. Fig. 3. — Ditto: Enlarged Section Of Mouth.NOTE: Click on image to enlarge. The following article is taken from the 1889 trade publication “Work” (Saturday, April 13, 1889 – Vol. 1, No. 4). It should be noted that it is unsure at this stage just who exactly “J. H.” may be, but they do seem to posses some interesting knowledge and insight into the casting process and planemaking in general. Articles like this, from the “Golden Age” of infill plane making — and indeed metal planemaking as a whole (after all this was the era in which Stanley Tools were kings amongst a plethora of other makers in the U.S.) are invaluable in helping to understand the artistry and craftsmanship of these makers and companies. Home-Made Tools. By J. H. I. – An Iron Trying Plane Introduction – Pattern For Stock – How To Make Pattern – Casting – Trueing Up Sole And Side – Filing – Fitting Wood Blocking – Plane Iron – Filing Mouth – Wedge – Polishing – Lever. In this series of papers I propose to describe the construction [...]

You can find this original article on Handplane Central at Planemaking – Casting And Making An Iron Trying Plane

While in business, the Shepherd Tool Company sold some 1000 kits and 450 finished infill planes of various descriptions, including smoothers, jointers, chariot planes and shoulder planes. The kits proved to be an affordable way for many woodworkers and beginner plane makers to embark on making their first hand plane. Woodworker Steve B. explains how he went about building his own plane from a Shepherd kit. For some time I had gazed at images of various infill planes with lust, but could not afford a new Holtey or an old Norris or Spiers. However my desire for such a plane seemed a few steps closer when I came across the web site of Shepherd Tool Company. After browsing the web looking for further references to Shepherd and their wares, I decided to buy their Spiers #7 Smoother kit with brass sidewalls. The photographs that I’d seen of completed planes, and the reports of some people who had actually built the kit were very compelling. I started to get quite excited! I placed my order in September 2005, and the charge was debited to my credit card. After more than two months had passed, and after many unanswered or misleading e-mails [...]

You can find this original article on Handplane Central at Building A Shepherd Smoother

Infill plane maker, C.R. Miller, takes a departure from building dovetailed planes to a plane made solely for the creation of sliding dovetails. While there is beginning to be quite a substantial influx of information appearing on the web, and other places, in relation to the making of dovetailed infill planes, for some reason there appears to be very little in the way of plans, diagrams or tutorials for making a simple “dado-esque” plane for cutting the male part of a sliding dovetail joint. Its interesting to note that none of the major books on planemaking — to my knowledge — mention or give any instruction to making this type of plane. There are a couple of web pages around with a few very helpful and descriptive illustrations but the more information out there, the better, I say! As many woodworkers would, no doubt, know the sliding dovetail joint is ideal for shelving and carcase work as it provides a strong and somewhat decorative alternative to other woodworking joints. While much of this type of work is now done with noisy plunge routers, a specialized dovetail plane provides a much more quieter and calmer option that can be used in [...]

You can find this original article on Handplane Central at Making A Dovetail Plane (Part I)