Thread: Noddy's Hotrod - low angle wedged wooden block plane

Originally Posted by ac445ab

.......Why a so low blade bevel?.....

Why not?

I have the strong impression that Matt made this plane in large part to test prevailing wisdom, which is as good a reason as just about any other I can think of. Time will tell how successful it is, but it has the best chance, being made of pretty tough wood, and very well put together, so let's wait for a progress report in a few years' time....

Since the original discussion where Matt brought up the subject of low-angled woodies, I've been pondering this whole business of plane types & blade geometry for the umpteenth time, and it seems to defy a logical analysis. F'rinstance, the 'hotrod' has a cutting angle that is very close to your standard Bailey type plane (12 + 32 = 42* vs 45*). It has 12* of clearance, vs 15* for the Bailey with a typical grind/hone angle of 25/30, so as far as the wood is concerned, the edges attacking it are nearly identical. What drove the first person to make a "low-angled" version of a plane in any case??

Yet low-angled planes do have a different feel in the way they work. Is it because the applied force is aligned more closely to the long axis of the cutter? Is it a betteer bedding arrrangement? Or is it mostly imagination?! These are just rhetorical questions, the subject has been kicked around a lot, here & in other forums, and so far I haven't read any totally satisfying or pursuasive arguments as to why it is so.......

Anyways, much kudos to Matt for putting his ideas to the test. Mucking about, having fun, getting a new tool out of it, and learning something all at the same time - priceless!
Cheers,

Nice one Matt!! Not only does it look good it obviously works well AND is tough!!!

Originally Posted by IanW

Why not?

I have the strong impression that Matt made this plane in large part to test prevailing wisdom, which is as good a reason as just about any other I can think of. Time will tell how successful it is, but it has the best chance, being made of pretty tough wood, and very well put together, so let's wait for a progress report in a few years' time....

Since the original discussion where Matt brought up the subject of low-angled woodies, I've been pondering this whole business of plane types & blade geometry for the umpteenth time, and it seems to defy a logical analysis. F'rinstance, the 'hotrod' has a cutting angle that is very close to your standard Bailey type plane (12 + 32 = 42* vs 45*). It has 12* of clearance, vs 15* for the Bailey with a typical grind/hone angle of 25/30, so as far as the wood is concerned, the edges attacking it are nearly identical. What drove the first person to make a "low-angled" version of a plane in any case??

Yet low-angled planes do have a different feel in the way they work. Is it because the applied force is aligned more closely to the long axis of the cutter? Is it a betteer bedding arrrangement? Or is it mostly imagination?! These are just rhetorical questions, the subject has been kicked around a lot, here & in other forums, and so far I haven't read any totally satisfying or pursuasive arguments as to why it is so.......

Anyways, much kudos to Matt for putting his ideas to the test. Mucking about, having fun, getting a new tool out of it, and learning something all at the same time - priceless!
Cheers,

All clear, Ian! It was a misunderstanding! I tought 12° was the grinding blade bevel not the seat (Matt in the first post indicated a 15° angle for the seat) but more likely the guilt is of my bad English! Sorry

Originally Posted by ac445ab

.......but more likely the guilt is of my bad English! Sorry

No need to apologise, Guiliano - your English is far, far better than my Italiian! You and quite a few other non-English speakers do amazingly well on our Forum. Australians are notorious for their use of slang & obtuse terms - I'm not sure what's being said myself, at times....!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

- I'm not sure what's being said myself, at times....!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by ac445ab

Ciao Matt,
nice plane and a demonstration that wooden low angle planes can exist!



Why a so low blade bevel?

Giuliano

Nothing's wrong with your English Giuliano, i made a mistake. I meant 12 degree BED not bevel, sorry for the confusion. To be honest, it might be 12, it might be 15 or anywhere in between. The part for the bed skated around in the epoxy glue when I clamped it up and i wriggled it until it was about right but never actually measured the final angle.

Ian, there is one really good reason for the low angle on a block plane - it's much easier to make a plane you can comfortably grip one handed. On 35 degree block planes the blade sticks up exactly where I want to put my hand. To address that there is normally some sort of knob but that just makes the whole apparatus that much chunkier... As for the BU bench planes, I have no idea.

Thanks all for the comments

Matt

Originally Posted by Berlin

.....Ian, there is one really good reason for the low angle on a block plane - it's much easier to make a plane you can comfortably grip one handed.....

Not sure if that was what drove the original design, Matt, but it is as good as any other reason I've heard. and better than most.......

Cheers,

Matt, just saw this in the Lee Valley newsletter, & immediately thought of you.....

Matt,

That is a sexy looking little plane! I like the design detail you have added to what could really just have been a block.

Sorry chaps, only just noticed the comments. I've been kept busy recently by a preparing to build a house and haven't kept up to date with the forum.

Thanks for the props Dsel I had fun making the little guy and it has trucked on just fine... accepting that the mouth was too wide from the start and really needs closing up.

Ian, I don't know if I'd have the patience to laminate anything as thoroughly as that Preston remake, although I see where you're leading; you think I should re build my battle weary Preston. But its so pretty with all its welds an chips and missing details. What's not to love?

Ok, I'll see what I can do, it may be a wee while though. There are a few chores on the list!

Matt

Originally Posted by Berlin

......it may be a wee while though. There are a few chores on the list!

Hmm, the list that never shortens, once you own a house!

Wondered where you'd been the last little while. Fitting out a new workshop & making stuff for a new house will fill your appointments book for a while, I reckon. Next thing we know there'll be a little Berlin on the way, and your toolmaking career will be on hold for years to come.....

Cheers,

Can always make toys ... but its another sub-forum

Nah, I can just take the blade out and put Noddy in and she's good to go as a little car. Function stacking, it's the way of the future.