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A Roman Plane - my 21st century re-creation #4: Towards the first shaving..

Blog entry by YorkshireStewart posted 518 days ago 755 reads 0 times favorited 23 comments Add to Favorites Watch
« Part 3: bringing it all together Part 4 of A Roman Plane - my 21st century re-creation series no next part

Having finally fitted the cross-pin and riveted the end over, I could do a trial assembly of the whole plane. After polishing the iron and honing its cutting edge, I was able to set up the plane ready to see whether it was going to work!

Roman Plane 28

Roman Plane 27

With trepidation and excitement, I put a piece of oak in the bench vice, ran the plane over it and was thrilled when the first shaving emerged from the mouth of the plane. It was a little bit on the coarse side but a slight adjustment resulted in oak shavings just 5 thousandths of an inch thick. The resulting surface is very smooth, although the width of the cut is narrower than what I am used to.

Roman Plane 29

The plane felt really different to my modern ones due to its unusual hand grips. Three fingers fit into the rear grip and just two into the front one which is a little small for my big knuckles. The thick steel sole plate gives the plane a sturdy feel and the body contours are comfortable in the hand. Overall, I believe that the project has been really worth-while and the plane could certainly one that I could use in my workshop, as well as being a showpiece.

Photobucket

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems


23 comments so far

View Russel's profile

Russel

2033 posts in 818 days


posted 518 days ago

Well, it sure is pretty. The fact that it works is an extra bonus. Well done sir.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2470 posts in 647 days


posted 518 days ago

thats awesome! well done, these posts have inspired me to now go and try to make a hand plane! thank you for that and thanks for these posts.

View bhack's profile

bhack

241 posts in 599 days


posted 518 days ago

One word comes to mins. CRAFTSMAN

-- Bill - If I knew GRANDKIDS were so much fun I would have had them first.

View Al Navas's profile

Al Navas

289 posts in 754 days


posted 518 days ago

Stewart,

I have been doing some research on how best to tackle a Krenov-type hand plane, separated from the Roman types by so many centuries. I am just about to the point of cutting some lumber, dimensioning it, and starting the process. Your post helps immensely – THANKS!

-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com

View John Gray's profile

John Gray

1722 posts in 764 days


posted 518 days ago

GREAT JOB!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View Scott Bryan's profile (online now)

Scott Bryan

20079 posts in 700 days


posted 518 days ago

Yorkie,

This was an informational and well documented blog series. You have taken a lot of the mystery out of constructing a hand plane for me. If I ever decide to go this route I will be using this as a reference.

Well done.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 518 days ago

You, sir, are an impressive craftsman. The plane is beautiful, and it works!

View Mike Lingenfelter's profile

Mike Lingenfelter

457 posts in 992 days


posted 518 days ago

Nicely done. I just read through your other blog entries, loved it. I haven’t ventured into metal work yet, but maybe some day.

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9496 posts in 867 days


posted 518 days ago

That’s one fantastic job, Youkie!

I bet after all that work, that you’re glad it works.

I see it resting on your velvet purple miniskirt. :-)

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View WayneC's profile (online now)

WayneC

5855 posts in 976 days


posted 518 days ago

The final result is great. You should show the folks at the musem where the original is on display.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

2030 posts in 592 days


posted 518 days ago

Wow, that is really nice. You, Sir, are a master.

Let us know if you take it by the museum, and what they thought…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

View jcees's profile

jcees

548 posts in 678 days


posted 518 days ago

That’s so cool! Great job. AND it works too. Schweeeeet!

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

779 posts in 780 days


posted 517 days ago

Thanks, one and all, for your comments.

Al Navas – Good luck with your Krenov plane. Separated by nearly 2000 years from the Roman model, but so many parallels!

Gary – Yes, it was a relief when that first shaving emerged and yes, well spotted; that’s my favourite garment at the moment :-)

WayneC & SteveKorz – Two of the curators visited me this afternoon & they were really enthusiastic about the project. We (the plane and I) could end up in the local press. 15 minutes of fame, here we come! I’ll keep you posted.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View Karson's profile

Karson

25274 posts in 1279 days


posted 517 days ago

Yorkie: A great looking plane and a user also. What more could be asked of a tool.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

921 posts in 760 days


posted 517 days ago

Gal dang it Sir, you do some nice work. It is always such a pleasure to witness your projects.
Thanks.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14852 posts in 730 days


posted 516 days ago

Excellent & great shavings to boot.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1768 posts in 875 days


posted 515 days ago

I can already see the public interest piece on the local evening news or in the Yorshire Evening Post!

Fantastic Stewart! Just fantastic. This was a great series to catch up on, especially with the memory of your original post!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

779 posts in 780 days


posted 508 days ago

Heck Dorje. What do you know about the Yorkshire Evening Post?! Is it world-famous? :-)

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14852 posts in 730 days


posted 508 days ago

How about the London Times?.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1768 posts in 875 days


posted 507 days ago

Stewart – No, I don’t know much, and the Yorkshire Evening Post probably does not have world renown, though this internet thing is really something! Just trying to be silly…

And, I really do know how to spell Yorkshire – though I’m prone to mistakes… ;)

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View Kent Shepherd's profile

Kent Shepherd

717 posts in 165 days


posted 159 days ago

This is actually the first project I ever viewed on Lumberjocks. I was researching woodworking tools from Biblical times, and was having trouble finding much. I tried searching Roman tools and came up with this.
I found your blog fascinating, and would someday like to build one similar. Thanks for sharing. Awesome job!

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

779 posts in 780 days


posted 158 days ago

Thanks Kent for your interest. I hope you spotted this one too…

Click for details

Heck, I see it’s nearly a year since I posted the first one; where does the time go?

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View Kent Shepherd's profile

Kent Shepherd

717 posts in 165 days


posted 158 days ago

No. I missed that. I’m new, and there is so much to look at. Thanks

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

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