Donkey's ear shooting board -- reversed slope

[zenwood]

One more.

[JDarvall]

Here are some more pics. It was entirely made by dark-side methods, work really well too. Underneath is a batten allowing the jig to be held in the vice.

Boy, haven't you spoiled yourself with some lovely looking planes ...Thats that LA one isn't it, that everyone raves about. Only thing wrong with it, I reakon, is you could make it a little bit more stable on its side. Just tap on a wider metal plate ... ..na, wouldn't dare I guess with such a precious tool. .....I'll show you my shooting planes. Not as flash but I reakon they'll kick that planes butt....well....maybe They have thick skewed blades, and are wider on their sides, so they'd be more stable ........one day I challenge you to a 'plane off' !!!!!! .......but, I'll warn you, I'll be the crowd favorite !! ...... Aussies always go for the underdogs.

And as with your jack ass shooting board.....

Like the batten idea. Speeds up clamping eh.

And a little chamfer down where the edge of your plane sole runs <- good idea I reakon. Ensures its running clear. I do the same for the fence where my work butts up to. So no shavings or other crap interfers with accuracy, which no doubt would happen when I'm working quickly with lots of mitres to shoot.

And mate, you DID have an origional idea. You didn't get the idea from anyone else right ? Just that, that Finck bloke was at a time and place where he could afford to spend time thinking about the problem before you did. Thats all.
I reakon its hard to be the FIRST person to do anything anymore. There's too many people in the world, and too much inventive history. So most things IMO have been done before.
I have plenty of times 'discovered' something seemingly new, only to find out latter that its all been done before. Annoyed me a lot a first. Used to it know, except for when I learn of someone who invented/discovered something after I did and unlike myself, is now a millionare because he had the balls to follow through with it.

[zenwood]

Thats that LA one isn't it...

Yep, it was my first LN acquisition, and it thoroughly deserves all the raving. When I'm shooting with it, I grab the front knob with my right hand(:eek, and press my forearm against the body to hold it against the jig. Works well.

tap on a wider metal plate ...

Yeah, right. Not lettin' YOU near my babies!

I'll show you my shooting planes

I've been impressed by your shooting planes for quite a while, apricot. Bet they're the bees-knees. Mathieson blades, right? And the wide sides would be great for stability.

I'll be the crowd favorite

I want to get a LN#9 when I grow up. Then we'll have the shoot-off. Not sure how we standardise the test though...

Like the batten idea. Speeds up clamping eh.

Would do, and did on my old bench, but I've covered my new one with the sheet of chipboard to cover the flaking blue paint on the old door used for the benchtop underneath. I must get a proper bench top!

And a little chamfer down where the edge ...

yep. Don't have one on my other two shooting boards, which I made first, and the dust and crap getting into that corner is a PITA.

I reakon its hard to be the FIRST person to do anything

Yep: convergent evolution happens all the time in technological development. Probably why patents are so hotly disputed. If only I had done something with the idea I had in the early 70s of interacting with computers using graphical windows and point-and-click devices...

[AndyC]

Hi!

There are plans for the mitre shooting board, with the plane at 45 degrees, in a book called "Furniture-Making Techniques for the Wood Craftsman". It's a 'best of' compilation book of articles from furniture and cabinetmaking magazine. It should be easily available through amazon etc. It's only cheap aswell, about 7 pounds (not sure what that is in your funny dollar thingys! )

Andy

[derekcohen]

Zenwood, I echo the sentiments of Jake. In my book originality of thought is the ability to come up with ideas (functional or not, although functional is better ), regardless if someone else has done so as well. So, well done again!

My take on your Donkey's Ear is that you want to use it for mitres at the end of long pieces - and this is where I part ways with you. For the ends, per se, I would much rather use my mitre fence on my shooting board since this would be more stable. See the pictures below. Where I consider your design better, and why I will make one, is to plane side edges on narrow pieces (since a fence gets in the way when planing these - hence my earlier recommendation to mark out and plane to a line).

Jake, I'll take you up on that shoot off - the beer is chilling nicely. Come over to play. I think your metal shooting plane with the added sole is a good idea. Again nothing that has not been done before (but, hey, great minds think alike). See the picture below of the Stanley #51/52. My mate, Peter Byrne, has one and I do covet it so! (Peter has actually built a mitre jig for his - perhaps he might post it here if he reads this thread). Unhappily, since they are soooo expensive, I shall probably have a go at making one for myself. I do recall that someone on this site used angle steel section (3"?) to do so. My modification to your plane would be to add the same vertical rear tote as the #51 plane has. I believe (from hints left by Rob Lee) that LV have plans to make their version... Rob, if you're reading this, please, PLEASE, think of me! ... In the meantime, the LV #62-1/2 (LA Jack) make as a very fine plane for shooting as it is very stable, is low angle, and has a widish and thick blade (3/16" x 2-1/4"). I do like the Mathieson blades, and use several in various planes I have either built or modified. They hold an edge and sharpen up well. Great old steel.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[MikeW]

...I want to get a LN#9 when I grow up. Then we'll have the shoot-off...

Hi zenwood,

I've got a LN #9. I can sharpen the heck outta edge tools (don't ask about stabbing myself in the gut with my 38 mm paring chisel last week...was a clean cut, though).

But I wouldn't put it up against Jake's plane with the skewed blade and the extra weight--specially if titles were on the fenders, so to speak.

It is a nice plane and does a great job. But if I hadn't been so flush in my past life I would have instead either made a skewed woodie (with extra weight inside it) or bought one.

Well, that's probably just me, though. So take it for what it's worth.

Take care, Mike

[johnc]

This might not be a donkey's ear shooting board but it does do an accurate 45 degree mitre. Its meant to be clamped to a bench and was designed as a one job only board all it needs is a skewed plane or a low angle, the low angle block that is available does not cut it on the larger slab.

This is the first attempt at a photo so let's hope one appears below.

JohnC

[johnc]

Bugger!, Second go at a photo, touchwood.

[zenwood]

a skewed woodie (with extra weight inside it) or bought one.

Hi Mike. Have you seen a skewed woodie for sale? Where?

[zenwood]

Bugger!, Second go at a photo, touchwood.

I like it, John. Great for BIG workpieces.

[MikeW]

The only old ones I've seen lately for sale are a bit too short.

Steve Knight will make one if requested (http://www.knight-toolworks.com/). Look at his Specialty Planes page, the panel raiser. He builds it as a skew. So he is set up to make one. Wouldn't be a stretch for him to make a shoot board plane that is skewed.

Other than that, it isn't a difficult thing to make one. We are woodworkers...

[zenwood]

Thanks Mike. I've got a plough plane made by Steve Knight, forgot all about him.

Yeah, but having never made a plane before, ya know...