Thread: A #3-sized infill coffin smoother

Another great one, Ian. I like seeing them all there together, but I think that one may be my favorite. I think it's really well proportioned and the color is really great with the brass. I like the shape of the handle vs the original, too.

Not to imply that you asked for commentary, but I wouldn't reduce the size of the bun. I see why you think it appears a bit narrow in profile, but it matches the height of the "sides" of the handle infill, and I think it's well proportioned with regards to the handle itself. Just my opinion though. I'm sure it will look great either way.

So what lies in store for your arsenal of Stanleys!? Is this British invasion of infills going to be the end of their reign, like the Beatles coming in and making Elvis a thing of the past?

Either way, what's next? Let's hope for a few more rainy days

Cheers,
Luke

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

......What was the average gestation period?...

Paul, Until last September, I would've said 9 3/4 years!

They are all planes I've seen either in mags, books, or (rarely) in the metal, and all of them induced a "hmmm, wouldn't mind having one of those" response to a greater or lesser extent. As I said in the posts on my 14" panel plane, that one was conceived a very long way back, and would probably be gestating still if I hadn't seen the kit Henry had up for sale. Building that seems to have unlocked something in me because I've been in a veritable frenzy of plane-making since!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

....... but I think that one may be my favorite......

Y'know Luke, I think it stands a good chance of becoming one of my favourites, too. Been playing with it a bit this arvo, and it certainly works very nicely. I know you aren't fond of adjuster-less planes, but this little thing is far easier to set than my damned Norris & I was able to set it to take 1-2 thou shavings quite quickly & easily with my little brass hammer!

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

....... Not to imply that you asked for commentary, but I wouldn't reduce the size of the bun. I see why you think it appears a bit narrow in profile, but it matches the height of the "sides" of the handle infill, and I think it's well proportioned with regards to the handle itself.....

Always happy to take incoming comments, good, bad or indifferent!
It really depends on how you view it. From some angles, it looks fine, but from directly side-on it looks a bit high. It feels fine, which of course is what matters most. So I'll just wait & see.

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

....... So what lies in store for your arsenal of Stanleys!? Is this British invasion of infills going to be the end of their reign, like the Beatles coming in and making Elvis a thing of the past?

Either way, what's next? Let's hope for a few more rainy days .....

Well, funny you should ask, been thinking along those very lines & decided I won't be giving up any of my Bailey type planes. I think a #7 is a far more practical jointer than a thumping great infill (at my age, at any rate!). My 5 1/2 will remain the jack of all trades it's always been, & besides, since it was my dad's it has a guaranteed home, and my #4 is just too useful to think about tossing out! The thing about Mr Bailey's creation is that they are so versatile. They do everything well enough, and it's very easy to dial up fine or coarse cuts virtually mid-stroke, which is something none of the infills can match, so they win hands-down on versatility. The big, solid, lumbering, infills do a few things excellently, and are nice to look at, so they are complementary, but not complete substitutes.

So I told them to shuffle up a bit tighter & managed to get 'em all squeezed into the t-box......

What's next? Well I made a sort of solemn promise the smoother would be my last plane for a while. But I do have a piece of the 5mm gauge plate left, and a really nice, solid, A2 blade I bought for a project that got cancelled, & I did have my fingers crossed behind my back when I made the promise, so who knows?

Cheers,

With a gestation period of 9 3/4 years I would have expected the planes to be a little larger. What is an elephant ( I know, a big grey pachyderm), two years?: A coopers plane or a jointer, at the least, for that length of time .

So I actually meant during this last flurry. I think you may have trotted them out at one every two months or so. This would also account for the diminutive size of one as it was premature.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

...... I actually meant during this last flurry. I think you may have trotted them out at one every two months or so. This would also account for the diminutive size of one as it was premature.....

Paul, I started on the panel-plane in early September. There were quite a few interruptions, but I reckon I've managed about 3 out of every 4 days since then in the shed. That's 60 days and I've made 9 planes in total, making average time per plane a bit under 7 days. So if you want to continue the fertility analogy, I'm definitely ahead of elephants, but not quite up to the rabbit, with a 31 day gestation and average litter of 6! Don't knock my little ones, the runt of the litter can still be famous (Babe?).

There's a couple I haven't shown you. I decided I may as well write something up for AWR, so you'll have to wait 'til it comes out in print (or gets rejected) before I can show you those....

Just a little tease, you could see them any time if you happen to drop by.
Cheers,

Ian

The next time I travel to Brissy I will allow the ute to have it's head and wander past your house.

Regards
Paul