Shopsmith Forums

I recently been watching episodes of the Woodwright's Shop on line and loving every minute. In one of the more recent episodes, Roy Underhill is making the paneled doors for a corner cupboard. Of course, he does so with hand tools and he introduced two new planes that I am not familiar with. I'm sure some of you are but for others, I thought I would share.

The first of the two is a "plow plane" that doesn't have a true sole. Instead, it uses two adjustable "skates" into which irons of differing width can be inserted. It is used to make the grooves in which the panel rides.

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The second is a "fillister plane" that is similar in concept to the plow plane with an adjustable fence but has a set iron. It is used for cutting a narrow shoulder.

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Some wonderful tools I found to be quite interesting. I'm sure those of you who do molding projects can accomplish this with SS shaper in no time.

There are several of you who have made planes. Anybody made one of these? Maybe something Holsgo's cross slide vise might be handy for.

I have both of these planes. The top is a 45 which claimed more than it could do well. It is a great plow plane and I use it for that. The other is a 78 rabbet filester plane. It's excellent for perfect rabbets.
I would suggest getting the 78 for sure. Especially one with the depth stop.

If you've never read "Patrick's Blood and Gore" site, it's both a great resource for Stanley plan info, and also pretty funny. His thoughts on the #45 are some of my favorites, so it's funny you bring it up:

http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan6.htm


his index/intro here:
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan0a.html

I had no idea the combination plane was that well known. Growing up in the era of the electric router, I barely knew of the existence of the bench plane, let alone critters like this.

Here's another plane I found interesting. This one is a "toothing plane" that has a serrated edge and rides nearly perpendicular to the sole.

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Welcome to the wonderful world of antique hand tools. With practice an experienced wood worker can be truly productive. The keys here are practice and experience.

I've wanted a toothing blade for some time. They are wicked for use on wild grain and can help give an excellent and easy start when followed up by a bench plane etc.

Here is a more traditional plow plane. It is hard to find one that is both in usable condition and affordable. Fortunately, it seems they are not as popular with interior decorators these days. (There are some watch/clock tools that are still popular with interior decorators, making even basket case tools unaffordable. )

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If you are interested in hand tools then as cobalt60 mentioned Patrick Leach is a great resource:

http://www.supertool.com/

Lots of good info and his monthly tool list will have you buying lottery tickets.

For the best single reference on choosing, tuning, and using hand planes I highly recommend Handplane Essentials by Christopher Schwarz.

Troy

Thank you for this,

I have had one of the #45's on a shelf in our house as an antique but didn't really know much about it. Based on the links, it appears to have been made between 1900 and 1910

I used my 45 to put a bead on the door of the kitchen cabinet I built with my SS. The cabinet matches the originals still in my kitchen from when the house was built in 1932.

The 45 I bought from an antique store. I have a 78 I bought new.

David Bodner

I have a slew of planes, moulding, rabbet, bench, low angle etc. Some of my most proud possessions. I used to give classes and sell the refurb ones I did this past summer. Sharpening was always the most common question. I use only 2 stones, a 350 and 700 diamond sharpening stone. Guys go crazy up to 2000 grit with scary sharp. My great grandfather, who's planes I have, used about a 350+ stone most of his life. We are talkng about the late 1800's. He built amazing things around Washington DC including a contract he had at the capitol. All that and he sharpened sitting on a bucket. I think I channel him when I read about creating mirror finishes on plane blades.