Low angel shoulder plane DIY (Div style plane) #3: Making the body part two.

Low angel shoulder plane
Making the body part two.

So here we go.

In last blog we left the body to dry.
Now time to make one of the sides flat by grinding of the pin ends.

Then the band saw, for shaping that body.
In the back left my future dinner knifes, its Swedish steel and eight different woods for the handles, in this way people can choose, and find a favorite (sorry it has nothing at all to do in this blog).

Cutting after the circle that I decided for the design.

Shaping and removing pin ends from other side also. By the sander, be careful not to burn it.

Need a dead flat surface? Here are how.

This simple!

Flattening the sole.
And a needle files on the bed.
It almost look like a plane now!

Not bad.

Getting closer!
In the front another of Div’s wonderful planes (I’m spoiled).

Hold the plane iron up and find out exactly where to place the planes mouth.
Makin a cut for the mouth.

And one more so we have an opening.
It is done with the Zona saw.

Paring the mouth with a dead sharp chisel.

Jaba daba dooo….

And look! It slides just in from the mouth.
(I thought this was not possible.).

Here we are!
As you can see this design has a few back sides.
The mouth can’t be super tiny.
The last part of the plane iron are not supported due to the fact I need to get the blade in, and the wood dimensions, a bigger plane would be less trouble.

The little cut off from the body now comes in action as a guide for the wedge angle.

And sawing the wedge, now with a Veritas dovetail saw. IMPORTANT:
After sawing it, you need to make the part of the wedge turning down against the plane iron a slightly concave curved so it rest on the front by the mouth and the heal by the back of the plane, in this way the iron will be pushed down against the bed and you will avoid that the plane iron dig in or bend of the wood.

A match.

A fit.

Hmmmmmmmm… will that really work!

Marking the wedge.
Notice I have rounded the end of the plane iron.

The low angle shoulder plane is made!

The size.

Inspiration.

Sizes.

Here it is doing shaves.

And here low angle and 45 degrees together.
Thank you Div, it has been great fun even I was quite frustrated for an hour this afternoon…

Here is a video showing it in action, it actually works.

And here the little wedge trick:

A last trick is to ‘hollow’ the wedge a little, just a little – in this way you will make sure there are a optimal pressure on the front of the wedge.

Time to say good night here.

I hope this blog can inspire others to go for a low angel shoulder plane, or any plane at all, the satisfaction by making your own plane is priceless.

Thank you div for playing with me my brother.

Best thoughts,
Mads

-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.