Thread: Curved sole compass plane

For wooden ones, you could try the japanwoodworker site:

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp?dept_id=12932

If you don't mind ironmongery, the ECE reproduction with the flexible sole is servicable (MIK and Lee Valley sell them).

G'day Zenwood,
I've seen the ones on japan woodworker I have had and used japanese planes and well I'm not a fun the turning takes some time to learn and also I found I had alot of tear out on spotted gum with one. But I didn't know about that ECE I will check it out have you used the type of plane on japan woodworker but the woodworking show is this weekend here in sydney so maybe I will see something there

Many Thanks,
Alistair

Send biting midge a PM.
He's planning to build his own and has had a trial with a flat plane.
you will need a plane for each diameter curve you plan to plane.
cheers

There is a pic of the flexible sole ECE plane here:
http://www.ecemmerich.com/metallhobel.html



I have used it a few times, and got reasonable results. The blade must be very sharp, and it does tend to jitter and tears out pretty easily due to the light sole and wide-ish mouth. But it is versatile, in that you can easily adjust it for different curves -- convex and concave.

For a very fine finish, you may be better off making a sanding block of the radius you want, or going with something like a violin-makers thumb plane, in combination with small scrapers.

Have you thought about using a spoke shave in stead of a compass plane?

ian

Why not make up a quick and dirty scraper?

Take two pieces of wood, cut a small trench in one for the scraper blade to live in, a set screw in the other piece, some relief for shavings, screw them both together and cut the required radius (or smaller) into the bottom and have at it?

Due to the whole radius/grain thing, I doubt that a compass plane exists that isn't going to tear out at some point, at least not one that will cater to different radii.

Thanks for the intro Soundy!

I did build the "midgenfang" for exactly that purpose. Building planes like this one is very quick and easy, and you can shape the bottom to any curve you wish with a good deal of accuracy.

I had been looking for an adjustable metal compass plane for quite some time, then realised that for a few hours work I could have a purpose built tool for any radius I need. Only one blade required, just swap it from plane to plane.

If you need info on how to build, I'll shoot you a couple of sources of very simple plans (free).

Cheers,

P

G'day guys,
Wow while I've been sleeping all this great replys have been been posted thanks for all the info thank you to everyone for their ideas. I will be gettting a HNT gordon curved sole spoke shave very soon so this may do the job I'm after but I feel a small compass plane would be helpful. Schtoo I didn't know that you can still get tear out with a compass plane well I guess thats some to think about as well. BitingMidge That is a really beautiful plane and yes I would be very thankful if you shared the info on making it with me one thing that stands in my way is I very little power tools only a jig saw and a small power sander the rest of my stuff is handtools maybe i could still make one with handtools?

Thanks guys,
Alistair

I have tried the midgenfang & its a serious piece of kit, I recon he will need to popen the mouth up If he wants to cut anything other than whisps though.

Zen mate have you given the little bender a tune? I had encounters with a couple of green painted tools like that and found the blade bed needed flatening, the blade certainly needed flatening and the lever cap needed some work.

I had a near new spoke shave like that the chattered like a bunch of old housewives until I "fixed" it.

cheers

It's interesting how those that have been around a while take it for granted that everyone's seen the old stuff.

These planes are really simple to build, a bit harder with only hand-tools, but not too challenging.

Opening the mouth is really simple, because it is at the bottom of a "v" shaped gap, it's just a case of sanding the sole on a flat sheet of sandpaper till the mouth opens to the extent required.

If you go too far, you have to glue another sole on, but that's not too hard either.

I use cheap "Hong Kong" style replacement blades from Lee Valley, and the geometry and instructions can be found here:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,41182,46334

Mr Krenov's planes are very similar and worth studying as well.

Change anything to suit yourself. The one in the picuture for instance has a low angle bed as it's in a bevel up configuration.

They are so simple to build that I originally intended to build a suite of "blanks" ready to cut the sole to whatever curve was necessary for the job in hand, I just haven't finished them yet .
Cheers,

P

Soundman: nope -- I'm using it as it came out of the box, but it's a good idea to give it some tuning. Do you think I should flatten the sole?

Originally Posted by zenwood

Soundman: nope -- I'm using it as it came out of the box, but it's a good idea to give it some tuning. Do you think I should flatten the sole?

:confused:Gezzz from the look of the sole I'd say a few hours work with some sandpaper on flat glass Zenwood maybe you should take it back and tell them it's bent

Alistair

These guys do a compass hollowing plane for US$80.00.
I bought a travisher once from them. Very high quality and great people to deal with

cheers
Warren

http://www.crownplane.com/

Hmmmm flatening the sole:confused:

certainly getting the blade firmly mounted and cutting properly It should run better.
cheers