February 2006 - Page 5 of 5 - 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).

Miller “Rhino Horn” Gunmetal Infill Shoulder Plane

I’ve always found the gentle sweep of a Miller shoulder plane wedge to be one of the most attractive wedges I’ve ever seen. While many of them become “injured” and “deformed” over the years a good quality Miller wedge is always nice to find. George…

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…

eBay Planes Linked To Thomas Jefferson?

A Lexington dentist and collector of old woodworking tools believes he has stumbled upon hand planes that may have been used at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. The collector, Dr. Gary Coleman, could not believe it when he saw the names stamped on two antique woodworking planes…

Badger Cast Bronze Bullnose Plane

Charles Badger was a London-based tool maker and dealer who is noted in W. L. Goodman’s “British Planemakers From 1700” as being in business from 1852 (as Badger & Galpin) to 1867. Not much else is really known about him, other than the planes bearing…

Spiers Dovetailed Smoothing Plane (Early)

This is an early model Spiers dovetailed infill hand plane, possibly even a custom order. It has the trademark early features – low two-piece front bun and two-piece rear infill, screwed side plates (to fix the infills), tongue and groove joint for the sole plate…