Thread: Adding Cheeks to a Krenov-type Plane

very inspirational, Derek...

me too I was thinking to a laminated scrub plane, but with added cheeks instead of a pin to hold the wedge.

My only thought, was the glue to use. Did you use the epoxy for a real need, or maybe other kind of glue such PVA or titebond could be used?

Originally Posted by Orsomagno

... My only thought, was the glue to use. Did you use the epoxy for a real need, or maybe other kind of glue such PVA or titebond could be used?

Hi Orsomagno

I think that the glue is not critical, but epoxy is the strongest. As it is, the end of the cheek butts against the body, so it is not moving forward!

Regards from Perth

Derek

Given the attachment to where the plane came from, was it with hesitation that you made the modifications, or was it pure and simple that it was to be a user and so that anything that you had to do was just par for the course?

Hi Waldo

While I do have an emotional attachment to this plane because of its roots, this would be diminished if it could not be used as a tool. The modification had to be done for the plane to live.

I have a smoother made by the hands of Jim Krenov. It is an icon for me since I revere the work of JK. Nevertheless I use the plane - because that is what it is, not a statue on a shelf.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I have to admit, I've bought a few woodies, with the intention of being users but I haven't pulled them out yet so at the moment they're just sitting on the shelf.

But the joy of using something which has so much meaning for you returns more than something that sits and does nothing.

Nice work Derek. Good to get the thing working.

On a somewhat cynical (or skeptical?) sounding note, do you think you might've been sold a dud in the first place? Not that this is meant to detract from your work but it did seem from your earlier article a plane almost too good to be true but with a dodgy old blade. And one would've assumed that any old wooden planes in service with the railways would've been a more traditional design (like your retrofit) rather than the pinned Krenov style.

It just seemed a bit odd, that's all.

Cheerio,
Virg.

Hi Virg

The original plane was not a dud. It worked very well - until I changed the blade!

I suspect it may well have been made by someone who actually did work for the South African Railways, perhaps in recent years. The large amount of effort that went into making the plane just does not seem reasonable otherwise (especially since the plane was selling in Australia, not South Africa, where the interest would be small). I paid very little for the plane, from memory about $25.

Regards from Perth

Derek