Div inspires me daily. Hence, I embark upon his shoulder plane project. Mads has already tackled the low angle (thankfullly, because I didn’t have the guts), so I will tackle a 25 degree primary iron angle on a 37.5 degree bed. C’mon guys, it’ll at least be informative! Like Div said, first you start with an iron. I’m getting lapped by Mads (who can produce tools magically, upon command) so my sacrifice will be a gorgeous vintage Stanley (sorry plane Gods; and to Paul Sellers, at least it’s thin! :) ). Here she is in the death grip (a Stanley scrub says farewell):
I’m not going to use a quality wet grinder (I’ve gouged a wheel before) to do the dirty stuff. I’m going with the cheapo to get the rough stuff done. Once marked out, I’m going to use a Foredom armed with reinforced Dremel wheels to sketch out the primary cuts. People have commented on the number of wheels Mads went through…if you run your tool at the highest speed possible, you can give your wheel “some” longevity (I started out timid and grinded wheels down so quickly that the vise started butting into my handpiece…Practically, I’d plan on going through 6-20 wheels). I got tired of watching the money burn away…but stay tuned.
Mads commented that you should come short of penetrating the metal to save grinder life and I concur. I went about 3/4-way through, then wrenched the piece off with some vise grips (Dremel discs are expensive, for what you get; forget about the Foredom brand name ones! :) ). I resorted to a thin “kerf?” (thanks for the tip, Div) pneumatic grinding wheel to bring the iron to desired dimension.
Off to the Scary Sharp! I like cheap Lowe’s marble windowsill for my base. For precision purists (StumpyNubs, kidding brother), I’ve checked them with the Starrett and they’re flat.
Getting there!
As mentioned above, I’m going with a 25 degree primary. This deserves the Royal treatment, so I made sure I was dead-on and square before I hit the quality wet wheel. I dressed the wheel coarsely until I got close to a burr, then I redressed fine and reached an even burr
Then to the powered strop prepped with some Autosol (my favorite). I’ll alternate between the strop on the bevel and a quick pass over 2000 grit on the back of the iron until I don’t feel any resistance on the Scary Sharp (it’ll glide like butter). I forgot to mention, I spritz the Scary Sharp wet-dry paper with a slurry of water with a blob of Murphy’s Oil Soap.
Here’s my bevel side. For those of you spotting that gouge, if I live to get into that vein, I’ll be a happy man (smiles, Mads).
Here’s the backside (the “money” side). You’ll have to trust me that that’s just dust, not pits.
Already caught him “hanging out”; for the record, molding planes are a bad influence :)
What can I say, I’m a dumb guy, had to try it out. It’s sharp.
A big hug for Div for motivating people to make irons!
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
21 comments so far
degoose
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6590 posts in 1522 days
#1 posted 726 days ago
Looks real good mate.
-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...
WayneC
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9596 posts in 2264 days
#2 posted 726 days ago
Well done. Not so sure I would let the blade that close to my arm (lol).
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
grittyroots
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42 posts in 857 days
#3 posted 726 days ago
nice work. can’t wait to see the rest
-- Gritty Roots i can build anything as long as i have 2 things the internet and my father-in-law
patron
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12051 posts in 1508 days
#4 posted 726 days ago
surely well done al
great blog too
i’m looking at the hock t blade
i don’t have the tools to play like you guys yet
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
Bertha
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13111 posts in 860 days
#5 posted 726 days ago
I’m WAITING on the Hock, Patron! Mads and Div have already produced eighty planes while I’m waiting for my delivery. Just like when I was on the track team, I got tired of getting lapped!
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
WayneC
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9596 posts in 2264 days
#6 posted 726 days ago
Where did you order it from Al?
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Bertha
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13111 posts in 860 days
#7 posted 726 days ago
I ordered it directly from the Hock site. I simply ordered the replacement blade for their shoulder plane kit; and I made a big production about showing my fiance’ the other offerings, namely the Krenov kit and the carving knives (I’ve got a birthday coming up :) ).
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
patron
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12051 posts in 1508 days
#8 posted 726 days ago
a little pup like you al
needs some new tools
to chow on
if you are going
to be a big dog
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
Bertha
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13111 posts in 860 days
#9 posted 726 days ago
Woof Woof, Patron. I’ve got my 40th birthday coming up and I’m expecting a big jointer, Oliver 8 if I get my birthday wish. And I’m a handtool guy! What gives? :)
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
bigike
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4023 posts in 1455 days
#10 posted 726 days ago
nice work
-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com
WayneC
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9596 posts in 2264 days
#11 posted 726 days ago
I’ve got a B’day coming up as well. On the Hock tool question, I get real quick turn around from Craftsman Studio. I’m looking hard at the carving knives as well.
http://www.craftsmanstudio.com/index.htm
That jointer would be wonderful.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
lanwater
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2417 posts in 1101 days
#12 posted 726 days ago
very well done. I like the pictures, very informative.
By the time your on your 80th plane I will be half done with my first.
llwynog
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231 posts in 746 days
#13 posted 726 days ago
Great work Al, I have also been reading Mafe’s blog on the subject and I am looking forward to see the outcome of this project.
-- Fabrice - "On est bien bête mais on sent bien quand on se fait mal" - my grandfather
mafe
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8055 posts in 1256 days
#14 posted 726 days ago
Hi Bertha,
That looks good and like a lot of fun.
I am impressed especially by all the efford you make for us so we get some little glimpse of tools where ever we look, even it do make it hard to stay focused. Especially the watering can made a big impression.
The blade you made looks beautiful! And your arm too – lol.
Rewarding to make a blade yes?
Nice detail that you put your vice on a extender so you can stand up with the back straight as you work – clever you are!
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
Bertha
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13111 posts in 860 days
#15 posted 726 days ago
Mads, very rewarding to make blades, that’s for sure. You noticed my extender! I keep most of my metalworking tools on posts because I don’t have a dedicated metal area. When metal calls, I’ll clamp the post into my bench vise. The pole allows me to adjust the height for comfort and If I get desperate, I can steal the post for uaw in a pipe clamp:) Like yourself, I like little tools to creep into the fun:)
It also occurred to me while working that the same process would lend itself very well to constructing full-tang carving knives!
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
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