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Roman Plane re-created

Project by YorkshireStewart posted 531 days ago 2095 views 6 times favorited 24 comments Add to Favorites Watch

The ash of Pompeii (AD 79) preserved the earliest planes ever discovered but the earliest physical evidence appears on silver coins from nearly 100 years BC, although, naturally, the details are scant. It is possible to see from the series of coins that different styles of plane already existed, so, clearly, much development had already taken place 2100 years ago.

Having said that, there is no evidence that the ancient Egyptians had developed the wood plane. All the evidence shows that wood was smoothed by adze, followed by rubbing down with stones and sand.

It is possible that the Greeks in the fifth to the second centuries B.C. had the plane to work their finely panelled doors. None has ever been found however.

A number of planes survive from Roman times. Some are very simple, being entirely wood with the iron wedged against a pin. Evidence suggests that most Roman planes were of this type. Others, like the Goodmanham Plane, comprise a wooden body riveted to an iron sole-plate. Despite the complexity in making a plane this way, the Roman makers had realised how much the iron sole extended the life of a plane.

Others incorporated iron cheeks to strengthen the throat sides. Those from Pompeii are of a similar width as this one (The Goodmanham Plane) at 55mm, but only 8” / 200mm long as against 13” / 330mm.

The iron of the Goodmanham Plane is 1 5/16” / 35mm wide falling nicely in the middle of the range of the other planes that have been found complete with irons (27mm to 40mm). The iron is set at an angle of 65° +/- 1°whereas the iron of a modern general duty plane will be set at 45 degrees (known as Common Pitch). The rake of all other excavated Roman planes ranges from 50° to 66°. An angle as great as 65° would be most suited to harder woods.

History lesson over!

The Goodmanham Plane was fairly recently found near the village of that name in East Yorkshire, and is now in a museum in Beverley.

This is my attempt at re-creating that plane which is from about the second to fourth century AD. The original was made of ivory and iron.

My construction method is outlined here on my blog.

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


24 comments so far

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1750 posts in 608 days


posted 531 days ago

very beautiful work.

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2479 posts in 660 days


posted 531 days ago

thats amazing YS! thanks for the post and keep up the great work!!

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7599 posts in 1110 days


posted 531 days ago

That’s a real thing of beauty, Stewart! And a great history lesson.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View mot's profile

mot

4902 posts in 928 days


posted 531 days ago

Yowza!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7297 posts in 1138 days


posted 531 days ago

I was going to make a joke about Romans flying, but that was such an intellectual trip into the past I decided I actually learned something, thank you Mr. Stewart. A very nice plane indeed. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 766 days


posted 531 days ago

Very, very, very nicely done.

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1668 posts in 982 days


posted 531 days ago

This is a great project. I enjoyed reading the blog as well. Very impressive. You could sell these or the plans.

Well done!

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

View Napaman's profile

Napaman

3482 posts in 969 days


posted 531 days ago

WOW…this HISTORY TEACHER gives your write-up an A+!!!! Loved reading all of it!! This makes me want to make one even more!!! In your research is there any evidence the Chinese had been using planes? Some of there discoveries pre-date “western” civilization…but I am not an ancient history historian…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3424 posts in 956 days


posted 531 days ago

I have been waiting for this since you shared the original. Lovely job of it, Stewart. Thanks for a great post. That tissue-like shaving bespeaks a good tune as well.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View MrWoody's profile

MrWoody

285 posts in 666 days


posted 531 days ago

Stewart, that is simply gorgeous. Just out of curiosity, how long did it actually take to make?

-- If we learn from our mistakes, I'm getting a fantastic education.

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 880 days


posted 531 days ago

As stated in my other posts, Fantastic job, Yorkie!

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

View Blake's profile

Blake

2755 posts in 766 days


posted 531 days ago

Awesome piece of history. It is so cool that you recreated this! Great job too. I really enjoyed the lesson. I had never heard any of it before. Thanks!

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

View USCJeff's profile

USCJeff

899 posts in 960 days


posted 531 days ago

Very unique and interesting. Thanks for the background.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14914 posts in 743 days


posted 531 days ago

Looks like you have a very good working plane Stewart as well as an ancient resurrection.

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

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1725 posts in 882 days


posted 530 days ago

I remember discussing/reading about this last year. Wasn’t there one in a museum that was made of stone or something like that? I remember you stating that you wanted to recreate it…and my friend, you did a wonderful job too!

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

782 posts in 793 days


posted 530 days ago

Thanks again Gentlejocks for your interest.

Napaman – that’s a good question about the Chinese. In the next couple of weeks, I’m expecting a visit from a professor with a passion for historical tools. I’ll pose that question.

MrWoody – I often keep a note of how long I spend on tasks but I failed to do so this time. It’s been done very piecemeal over many months. I imagine 25-30 hours would be realistic; much of it spent in doing the metalwork- filing, filing, filing.

Dadoo – Well remembered! The original one is actually ivory, so it’s believed to have been once owned by a wealthy family.

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

View Davesfunwoodworking's profile

Davesfunwoodworking

259 posts in 767 days


posted 526 days ago

Now thats a hand plane. Great job Stewart, Now I feel like I am falling behind on the plane making. All I can say to you is this WOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job..

-- Davesfunwoodworking

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

2238 posts in 477 days


posted 310 days ago

A very good post Stewart well done my friend and lovely planeAlistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

782 posts in 793 days


posted 310 days ago

‘tis good to hear from you Alistair. I’m currently struggling to make a second one; only this time the body is in ‘faux ivory’ – a form of resin. So it’ll be even more like the original. I hadn’t realised it was 221 days since I posted this; how time does fly by.

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

View woodbutcherer's profile

woodbutcherer

30 posts in 347 days


posted 299 days ago

Absolutely fantastic and fascinating!!! I have always been interested in the old way of doing things…this is the ultimate example of that.

-- POST NUBILA SOL - After clouds sunshine

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1292 days


posted 299 days ago

Stewart: I guess I missed this one earlier. A great looking plane. Nice job.

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

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

782 posts in 793 days


posted 296 days ago

Thanks for your comments. I have just about finished the second replica; this one in a resin ‘faux’ ivory to look more like the original would have done. Give me treewood to work with any time!

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

View adzdub's profile

adzdub

13 posts in 117 days


posted 117 days ago

I really like this plane. How is the ivory replica going? I can’t wait to see the progress. I am very interested in these historical replicas. Hope to hear and see more.

-- ego sum quis ego sum

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

782 posts in 793 days


posted 102 days ago

Thanks adzdub – I ought to have posted this before now! I handed the plane over to the museum owner some months ago. He was highly delighted.

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

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