Dovetailed Archives - Handplane Central

DID YOU KNOW…

Making planes can be a difficult task, but the most difficult part is actually finding good information on planemaking and how to go about it. Handplane Central simplifies the process somewhat by providing a wealth of information and various tips and tricks on making planes, as well as the tools and materials necessary for planemaking (and how to make the plane making tools themselves in some instances).

Building A Shepherd Smoother

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…

Spiers No. 1 Dovetailed Panel Plane (13-1/2″)

These side plate profile drawings are from a later model Spiers No. 1 dovetailed panel plane and are offered more as a template for cutting out the side plates for dovetailing, rather than a full and comprehensive set of plans or diagrams. Typically the side…

Sauer + Steiner Toolworks

While there have been a few dedicated makers of infill planes over the past 60 years there has been somewhat of a resurgence in the “lost art” of infill planemaking within the last decade or so. One of the best makers carving a niche for…

Making A Dovetail Plane (Part I)

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…

Edward Preston & Sons 1901 Catalog

These scans are from the Edward Preston & Sons catalog of 1901. Edward Preston Sr. (1805-1883) was first listed as a plane maker at 77 Lichfield Street in the 1833 Birmingham Directory but it is believed he may have started business there as early as…

Norris No. A-1 Dovetailed Panel Plane (13-1/2″)

Here are some side plate profile drawings for a later model Norris number A-1 dovetailed infill jointer plane. These diagrams are a little more detailed but are still intended more for use as a template for cutting out the side plates and sole plate prior…

Norris No. 1 Dovetailed Jointing Plane (25-1/2″)

These side plate profile drawings are from a between-the-wars model Norris number 1 dovetailed infill jointer plane and are offered more as a template for cutting out the side plates for dovetailing, rather than a full and comprehensive set of plans or diagrams. The scale…

Basic Tools For Metal Plane Making – Part I

Making infill planes – from little planes, big planes grow Infill plane maker, Cameron Miller, gives a rundown of the basic tools needed for making metal planes. Part one of this article concentrates primarily on vices, saws and files. When I made my first metal…

Tyzack And Son 1908 Catalog

The scans below are from the Samuel Tyzack & Son catalog of 1908. Samuel Tyzack was in business from 1861 to 1867 at 8 Old St. before moving to 347 Old St. & 153 Shoreditch from 1872 and later 343 & 345 Old St. in…

Buck & Hickman 1935 Catalog

The Buck family name has long been synonymous with collectors and users of hand planes and other woodworking tools throughout the past 150 years or so. Spanning several generations (and continuing right up to the current day) the Buck family were a dynasty of tool…

Norris 1928 Catalog

This is the second Norris catalog addition to the site and is a reproduction of the 1928 catalog. The main difference you will note is that most of the images of the bench planes feature the Norris adjuster, whereas in the 1914 catalog the adjuster…

Norris 1914 Catalog

The scans below are from the Thomas Norris & Son catalog of 1914. The catalog features the entire range of Norris hand planes, from dovetailed smoothers, panel planes and jointers right down to tiny violin makers planes cast in bronze. Mitre planes, shoulder planes and…