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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
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    Default Designing a box for a plough plane

    I returned to the shed this past weekend for the first time in two months. I guess one should not be surprised that I had a couple of weeks of flu following my return to a steaming Australia from the cold and snow of US and Canada.

    Anyway, before I left for the other colonies I had begun designing and constructing a box for a bridle plough plane built several months ago. It was to be basic (it's just a box!) yet needed to be interesting enough to earn its place in the shed.

    The box began as a simple dovetail construction mixing two West Australian woods, Jarrah and She-oak, both of which had featured in the plough plane.



    It did present a few interesting moments, such as a tricky diagonal saw cut to open it up ...



    Initially I had been inspired by the lines of a military/campaign writing desk.



    I went so far as to French fit the 8 irons in a frame-and-panel insert (that was fun - the Jarrah is both brittle and hard) ...



    It became apparent that this was not going to work. Just too bulky and too heavy to manoeuvre.

    Perhaps it would look better orientated like this?



    That was even worse!

    The trouble was that I had worked hard to match the dovetails on the sides, and I had to let this go. So, after some soul searching, the box has ended up like this ...



    The front is a frame-and-panel lid/door. As mentioned , one of my goals was to make the box as simple as possible. I did not want mouldings or fancy fittings. Indeed, I did not want any brass hinges, handles, or catches to show on the exterior.



    As you have anticipated, the front opens downward ...



    .. to reveal the plough (much easier to grab now than leaning into a box). This is held in place by a bracket at the rear ..



    .. and the irons with the rescued French-fit tray. They are secured by a single cross piece ...







    And the remaining section of the box? It will be converted into a writing desk.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek

    p.s. I think that it is time to build a light box. Apologies for the quality of the pics.
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    Default

    Nice Plane , and Box.
    I like that She Oak .

    Have you seen this Bureau Bookcase, Sydney 1803 I think.

    BUTLER , Lawrence |The Governor King secretaire bookcase

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
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    Default

    Nice work and a great outcome.
    I did like the concept of the military writing desk - but if it won't work - it won't work.
    Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can? -- Sun Tzu

  5. #4
    Scribbly Gum's Avatar
    Scribbly Gum is offline When the student is ready, the Teacher will appear
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    Jan 2006
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    Default

    Very Cool Derek.
    I can see that this is one idea that will be widely copied.
    Five Stars from me!
    .... some old things are lovely
    Warm still with the life of forgotten men who made them ........................D.H. Lawrence
    https://thevillagewoodworker.blogspot.com/

  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by enelef View Post
    Nice work and a great outcome.
    I did like the concept of the military writing desk - but if it won't work - it won't work.


    I'm not saying - it should work - it should work. enelef

    What I did mean by putting up that link was. It's a nice choice of timber, and the history of it's use goes a long way back in the history of cabinet making in this country. It's nice to see it being used like Derek has used it with fine dovetails like that.

    I did start writing up more on it but when I started reading into the link at the National Gallery they have described it as beefwood veneers, my understanding is that it's a type of Casuarina, then I started trying to write about a Beefwood / sheoak explanation and it started to get long and confusing , I had to get off the computer and go to work so I deleted it and just left the link. Just meaning, Nice work , you may have an interest in this .

    So calm down and carry on.

  7. #6
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    umm - I was referring to Derek's comment about it being 'Just too bulky and too heavy to manoeuvre.' (sic)
    Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can? -- Sun Tzu

  8. #7
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    Sorry enelef , My mistake . again
    I have to read more carefully before I reply.



    Rob

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    Brisbane
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    Default Designing a box for a plough plane

    Very nice! I have already been doodling Jules Vernian plough plane designs. My utilitarian Ulmia is starting to look, well, utilitarian.

    Thanks for walking us through it.

    Matt
    ...I'll just make the other bits smaller.

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