Making Hand Planes Archives - Handplane Central

DID YOU KNOW…

The descriptive terminology used by planemaker’s and collectors can be somewhat confusing to the beginner. For example there was never any real standardization of the various parts of a plane as such, but the names tended to follow the same general pattern.

A Simple Dowel Grooving Plane

Fig. 1: Handy plane for 1/4 inch and 3/4 inch dowel. The main body of the plane is in two pieces screwed together. If desired, a 1/16 inch chisel could be used for the cutter, the plane body being trenched to suit it. It is…

Planemaking – Casting An Iron Rebate Plane

Fig. 1. — Section through Rebate Plane.NOTE: Click on image to enlarge. An Iron Rebate Plane. By A Foreman Pattern Maker. Purpose of Rebate Plane – Why Skew-Mouthed – Effect of Skew-Mouth – Pattern for Rebate Plane – Core Box – Prints – Mouth –…

Planemaking – Casting An Adjustable Block Plane

Fig. 1. — Casting for Block Plane, in Section. Fig. 2. — Section through A A.NOTE: Click on image to enlarge. A Block Plane And Plane With Lever Adjustment. By A Foreman Pattern Maker. A word in season – Shell of Block Plane – Patterns…

Planemaking – Casting An Iron Chariot Plane

Fig. 7. — Chariot Plane, in Section. Fig. 7 A. — Ditto, in Plan.NOTE: Click on image to enlarge. Home-Made Tools. By J. H. III. – An Iron Chariot Plane. In this article I will describe and illustrate a common iron chariot plane. The remarks…

Planemaking – Casting An Iron Smoothing Plane

Fig. 4. — Casting for Iron Smoothing Plane: Section. Fig. 4 A. — Ditto: Plan.NOTE: Click on image to enlarge. Home-Made Tools. By J. H. II. – An Iron Smoothing Plane. In this article I will describe and illustrate a common iron smoothing plane. Fig….

Wooden Plane Making: Cutting Beech Plane-Stocks

When it comes to cutting and making the main body stock of a wooden hand plane its important to realize the fundamentals of planemaking. It goes without saying that wood is a very accommodating and expressive material, and its always on the move in one…

Making A Dovetail Plane (Part II)

Infill plane maker, C.R. Miller, takes a departure from building dovetailed planes to a plane made solely for the creation of sliding dovetails. Fig. 10 – The basic body of the plane glued up. Note the angle of the bed and the tight mouth. Where…

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…

Why Make A Hand Plane?

C.R. Miller explores the reasons why it might be desirable to start making your own hand planes and other tools. Make Your Own Hand Planes? Why Would You Bother? Back in 1994 I was giving a planemaking demonstration at a National woodworking show. The plane…

Basic Tools For Metal Plane Making – Part II

Infill plane maker, Cameron Miller, gives a rundown of the basic tools needed for making metal planes. In this second part he concludes the article by concentrating on fabricating, marking and layout tools. Joining And Fabricating Tools Drills — Drills are essential for planemaking, not…

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…

Timbers Used For Pattern Making

When it comes to making the patterns used for castings, there are some fundamental attributes that need to be considered. Woods chosen for this purpose should be straight, and evenly grained, sufficiently dry and most importantly, dimensionally stable – with only a small amount of…