Thread: How important is the right cramp/plane for the beginner?

There are a million cool jigs, tools and instruments on sale for woodworking ... pickup any magazine ... but it has also been performed by people with little resources and a lot of ingenuity. The internet is your friend - and these fora especially.

Too short a plane will hamper your efforts at planing a 'normal' length piece of wood ... but look up 'Krenov plane' ... you can get kits online ... or else you just need a good blade and some wood.

People here and elsewhere have made their own clamps from wood - I think IanW did recently (??).

You'll need a simple handsaw and some chisels ... and learn to sharpen them. It can be done with 'sandpaper' ... search for 'Scary Sharp'.

Cheers,
Paul

Russell, whether you need the right cramp or not depends on your choice of glue. If you look at Woodwould's threads (usually under Big Stuff) you'll see that he is an exponent of rubbed joints using hide glue - no cramps needed.
Cheers,
Jim

Russell,
they say "a bad workman blames his tools" and truly good tools do make a difference.
However,
first thing to do is practice (and practice and practice). As an English teacher you probably know that already

I don't know what the chinese block plane really is. Block planes are generally for trimming the end grain and small areas. As a rule, the longer the plane, the better it is for straightening the edge or face of a board. I am sure it could be done with a block plane but it would take a different technique to a long plane. You would probably need a straight edge and some winding sticks (do a search).

As for clamping, no, you don't need the best. A good selection of different clamps helps but a bit of ingenuity goes a long way. For edge joining board (apart from the rubbing method that Jimbur hinted at) you can use, for instance, ratchet tie downs (don't forget to put scrap wood between the straps and board edges to protect the edges of the wood). In the photo below I used the edges of a trailer as a "jig" to join some boards with simple F clamps and spring clamps.



IMG_0227.JPGAlso you can get cheap straight edges here. I can't remember the address, I don't think it was very far from Nanjing Road. I just had to put this in to show off though

Regards
SWK

Thanks for all the replies, really appreciate it

I've done a little more research and it seems you can buy all sizes of Chinese planes on the web for quite cheap. They are a little different "Western" ones in terms of where you hold and how you push, but I think that's not a big problem.

I think what I'll do next is write down all the projects (well, just joints to begin with) I want to do in the next few months, and what tools I need to do them. Then I'll see what tools I actually can get my hands on and take it from there. I'll be back then to ask more questions!

@SWK: The address seems to be 480 Fuzhou Road. Is that place worth a visit?

Originally Posted by Russell Cook

@SWK: The address seems to be 480 Fuzhou Road. Is that place worth a visit?

Well, it's an art supply shop really, but I bought two steel rulers from there, a 50cm one and a 60cm one for only a few dollars each. I have been using them as medium length straight edges. A straight edge (and a square) should be in your tool kit. Typically here you can get 30 or 100cm ones but not so common to get the middle sizes. I wouldn't go there specifically, but if you were passing by certainly worth dropping in to have a browse and maybe pick up a few "unessential" tools.

I think they had carving tools (which you might want to buy one or two as general marking out or cutting knives) and they definitely had a good selection of (apparently) quality brushes too, chinese and western style. Just in case you want something to apply varnish or other finishes especially to small objects.

I remember after we visited that art shop we spent quite a long time in a big book store across the road (as you do on holidays in a foreign land

Regards
SWK

Do a search on line for mujingfang planes. They make a wide range of chineese and european wooden planes. I have 4 and they work pretty well.
As to clamping F clamps will work if that is what you have. You can clamp wood top and bottom (without glue) to keep the boards in line.
Regards
John

Agree entirely with you SWK. I have a variety of sash cramps only two of which I would class as good quality. I picked up a few indian made ones for about $15 each (a few years back) and they do the job, as do my cheap pipe ones. It is also easy to make ones up for special jobs using sliding wedges instead of screws.
Cheers,
Jim

As most have mention you do not need to have a specific clamp to do a certain job as you are able to modify to suit your needs.

I also agreed that a block plane would be a little too short, but really handy sometimes.

Hi everyone. Again, thanks for all the replies

I've decided my first 4 joints to have a go at will be:

1) Edge-to-Edge Joint
2) Fixed Tongue and Groove Joint
3) Cross-halving Joint
4) Dove-tail Half-lap Joint

According to the book I'm using, the following equipment will be necessary:

Planes - Bench plane, Plough plane, Rebate plane

Saws - Tenon Saw, Small Tenon Saw

Chisels - Bevel-edged chisel

Cramps - 2 Sash Cramps

Others - Pencil, Making Tape, Wood Glue & Brush, Rubber Mallet, Ruler, Double-sided Tape, Hammer and Nails, Combination Square, Marking Gauges, Hand Router, Marking Knife, Dovetail Marker, Work Bench

Does this seem like a reasonable basic equipment list? Are there any places I could simplify it?

Also, if I only buy one bench plane, how long should it be?

Also, is it possible to simply use a whetstone to sharpen a plane? My book says that it's possible to sharpen a chisel this way, but doesn't say about planes.

Any tips would be great!

Russell

So many questions. I am expecting that the book will give you a step by step process on getting these joints created and completed. So will not comment too much on the joints.

I will comment on the following in a more general tone as why I would get a certain plane.

Originally Posted by Russell Cook

Also, if I only buy one bench plane, how long should it be?

The bench plane that I would look at getting first would be one known as a Jack Plane as this can be used for jointing the edges, general prep of rough saw timber and dimensioning. The second plane that I would look at would be a Block Plane as these come in handy for quick smaller jobs like sizing one half of a lap joint. Both of these plane blades can be sharpen on the whetstones.

In response to this,

Originally Posted by Russell Cook

Others - Pencil, Making Tape, Wood Glue & Brush, Rubber Mallet, Ruler, Double-sided Tape, Hammer and Nails, Combination Square, Marking Gauges, Hand Router, Marking Knife, Dovetail Marker, Work Bench

Does this seem like a reasonable basic equipment list? Are there any places I could simplify it?

Yes this is a start. Not sure why Making Tape is mention unless it is a typo and should have read Masking Tape. Personally I would not be getting a Dovetail Marker as I think a sliding bevel gauge would have more then one use. I would swap out a Combination Square to a dedicated square as some Combination squares have too much play in them.
The hand router I would wait until I knew what I would use it for as you might want to go for a bench mounted one. There has been discussion on this forum about types of routers.

Originally Posted by Russell Cook

Any tips would be great!

This again is from my personal view point as I am doing this as a hobby. Take your time it is suppose to be enjoyable.

Originally Posted by Christos

The hand router I would wait until I knew what I would use it for as you might want to go for a bench mounted one. There has been discussion on this forum about types of routers.

I think he means the non-electron burner

It might be good experience to make some of your tools. An 'Old Womans Tooth' router is a classic example.

Marking and cutting gauges ... https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/c...gauges-150595/ ... even if they don't come out like Derek and Ian make them

A 90-degree square - ala Chris Schwarz.

There is the 100-year old book (that Schwarz and etc reprinted???) about the boy being taught basic steps in woodworking ... I can't remember the book's name ...

of course ... The Joiner and Cabinet-maker. Danged if I or anyone can find an old scan online for free.

But a sample of the new version here: http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/p...df/AQ-1135.pdf

Great review: The Joiner and Cabinet Maker | Norse Woodsmith

tool-list by Chris Schwarz: 41 Things from 1839 - Popular Woodworking Magazine

and watch Chris and Roy: . Watch Episodes Online . Woodwright's Shop with Roy UnderHill | PBS


... also see this video: The Joiner's Apprentice by Robert Campbell — Kickstarter

Cheers,
Paul

Charles Hayward is here, in 1945, re making your own tools ... Library - How To Make Things - Toolemera.com

This may be a little young ... but I liked it ... it is the book I was thinking of - not Joiner & Cabinet Maker ...

Download Jacob Abbott

(click on Read Ebook to download)The boy's own workshop; or, The young carpenters - Jacob Abbott - Google Books

Originally Posted by pmcgee

I think he means the non-electron burner

Yeah that's right I forgot about that. I managed to pick one up from ebay, but it took a long time.