Thread: Will I find Something in my Firewood Pile?

Originally Posted by yvan

I found an old 18-20" wooden plane that I am cleaning and trying to bring back to use.
In the process, I have been looking how it was made & so on and, at some stage, wouldn't mind trying to make one.
So, what makes a good blank to start with and would I be able to find one in my firewood pile suitable enough as a first attempt?

Where could I find more information about the process?

Cheers Yvan

Some pics first sooner really helpful if your able too.

Cheers Matt

Just google "making wooden planes", for starters. There are books, videos and magazine articles aplenty, so take your pick. There have been several threads covering some or all aspects, do an 'advanced' search with "wooden, plane, making" & you'll turn up enough to keep you busy reading for an hour or so.

Much of the info you'll dig up on the interweb is for the laminated type, whereas yours is most likely a solid chunk of Beech with the escapement & blade bed hacked out of that. I wouldn't want to get into an argument about which is best - both styles can work very well, but the laminated planes are easier to build, & you don't need any special tools like floats to do a good job.

You might find something in your firewood pile, just about any reasonably hard wood will make a plane, but don't choose something that is more like cast iron than wood unless you enjoy a proper challenge.....

Cheers,

Matt,
Will post some pics at the w/end.

Yvan