| Project by RusticJohn | posted 106 days ago | 1102 views | 5 times favorited | 22 comments |  |
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This is my latest work. A rather ornate Krenov style smoothing plane made of Matai and Oak. The front knob has the head of an old warrior and the wedge has his entourage, a woman and a singing Friar. All vaguely medieval. It is to be put up for sale at a Wellington Museum/Gallery in the next couple of days.
The plane is fully functional although many who buy others of mine tend not to use them. I do, but I suppose I can always make another if I damage one of mine. Matai, a native wood of New Zealand, is good for plane making as it is quite hard with a dense honey coloured grain. Its not the easiest for carving fine detail however as small pieces tend to flake off. I have had to make a special set of carving knives with curved sliding cut blades to get a good result. The heads of the Woman and the Friar are only about 40 mm high so features like the folds under the eyes are only about 1mm wide and 1mm deep.
The head of the Warrior was quite tricky to carve as 4 pieces of wood with grain running in different directions meet there. I had to also develop a special set of fine scrapers on a handle like a pencil to get a fine finish on the grain.
A fun project to work on but time consuming. It took a month, off and on, as my eyes tend to give up after and hour or two of fine carving. Taking time out to make the knives and scrapers adds to the duration.
-- RusticJohn
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22 comments so far
deon
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1175 posts in 1194 days
#1 posted 106 days ago
Great work!
-- Dreaming patterns
RS Woodworks
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#2 posted 106 days ago
Wow thats awesome! Great work and fantastic detail!
What would a plane like this go for? I’d love to have one.
I have an antique plane carved in the shape of a shoe, but it doesn’t have nearly the detail as yours does.
Ryan
-- I restore the finest vintage tools! If you need a nice plane, saw, marking tool or brace, please let me know!
RusticJohn
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87 posts in 1759 days
#3 posted 106 days ago
The plane will sell for $400. I can tell you where to go to get it if you want. Cheers RusticJohn.
-- RusticJohn
DIYaholic
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#4 posted 106 days ago
That is an amazing “work of art”, or is it “art for work”.....
Fantastic, that will surely be a prized possession, for an art lover or WW!!!
-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow!
Hybridwoodwork
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97 posts in 220 days
#5 posted 106 days ago
Good work, I love it!
-- How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter, found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a child.
MShort
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#6 posted 106 days ago
AWESOME!!!! Love the carvings.
-- Mike, Missouri --- “A positive life can not happen with a negative mind.” ---
ksSlim
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#7 posted 106 days ago
Fantastic! Wish I could afford one.
-- Sawdust and shavings are therapeutic
Don W
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#8 posted 106 days ago
that’s some detail. Nice work!
-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)
jap
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1030 posts in 222 days
#9 posted 106 days ago
that’s so amazing
-- Joel -- http://diversitywoodworks.wordpress.com
489tad
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#10 posted 106 days ago
Fantastic plane. I would use it.
-- Dan I.G.N.
Bluepine38
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#11 posted 106 days ago
Wonderful plane, and worth every penny, I can see why someone would buy it just for display,but I would
have to use it. Great addition to any shop. Thank you for sharing.
-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter
RusticJohn
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87 posts in 1759 days
#12 posted 105 days ago
Thank you everyone for the kind comments. – Cheers RusticJohn.
-- RusticJohn
NaFianna
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#13 posted 105 days ago
That is so beautiful.
-- Cad a dheanfaimid feasta gan adhmad.......?
mcoyfrog
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#14 posted 105 days ago
great work, any one would love a plane like this
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
stefang
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#15 posted 105 days ago
A very arty and beautiful plane. The carving is super too!
-- Mike, American in Norway
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