Razee Plane

**Mountain Ash** · 6th March 2022, 12:26 PM

Hi all. Another wooden plane build, but this done the traditional way.

Previously my wooden bench planes have been made with the 4 part approach, laminated together, effectively in the Krenov manner, but with the traditional boxy look. And while I did still have to "laminate" parts together (no 4" ×4" Beech easily available) the rest of the build will be as old fashioned as I can handle.

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No point making the whole billet full size, the Razee needs room for the lower placed handle. Set out followed the description from John Whelan's book "Making Traditional Wooden Hand Planes" and my collection of woodies.

Inspired by a recent thread about dressing difficult Aussie timbers, I set out the bed angle at 55°.

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One improvement I wanted to make on previous efforts was the mouth size. Starting with a 2mm drill bit was good but soon enough I had to widen it (to fit the blade and cap iron) and let to fit any chisels in.

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Chiselling out the waste was a good chance to use one of my mortise chisels (and a good chance to make a new handle, the existing one was at the "round tuit" stage). Invariably I cut to deep and had to modify things. Original position for bed was pushed back to keep angle the same and throat was steepened to clean up scratches. Abutments marked out, sawn, chiselled, checked, re set out, refined, rechecked, cleaned up, re marked out......

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Bed had to be levelled out, checked, re scraped, chiselled, checked......until blade sat flat and square. Patience is necessary but I was helped considerably by making a "blunt" chisel, as per Bill Carter's system. Worked out a treat, cleaned up the beech beautifully and I am now working up the courage to "sharpen" a gouge the same way.

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Wedge fitting was next but I probably spent more time fretting over the design rather than actually getting things right (must have been the previous steps coming to fruition).

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There is still a bit to do, the handle will take some time because I am going to try an enclosed, saw style version but I couldn't resist trying it out.

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Yaay!! The noise the shaving made was quite distinct, don't know if the extra 10° of bed angle made a difference but there was a definite "riiiip" as the shaving came straight up. It was thickish cut and the noise is probably similar to my moulding planes (which have the same bed angle).

Bit more to go but thought some might like to see the progress (and the hummus tubs)!! Thanks too to "Fuzzie", I have finally got round to using one of the blades I bought from you.

**Picko** · 6th March 2022, 01:37 PM

That's a whole lot of choppin' MA. Nice work. It's a shame we can't train termites.

**IanW** · 6th March 2022, 05:16 PM

Great stuff, MA. I have the same 'flaw' as you - as soon as a plane is capable of holding a blade, I can't resist seeing if it will take a shaving. It usually does, although once or twice the mouth was far too tight & I set the blade too coarse & the first couple of mm of shaving jammed in the mouth. At least I could see I had a tight mouth!

Now you mention it, a higher angle blade does make a different sound, my 55 deg gives a sound that's a bit more like a scraper, which I guess is unsurprising...

To "do a Matty": - c'mon, hurry up, we want to see the "done" shots.....

**Mountain Ash** · 6th March 2022, 11:19 PM

Thanks P and Ian. Started work on shaping the wedge top but not sure it suits the bulk of the plane (chose not to go with chunky coffin shape but rather a more decorative scroll and I am now second guessing my choice). Glued up 2 boards to make the handle but back to work this week. Because we had to isolate (1 daughter tested positive for covid) I got more time in the workshop but progress will slow down again.

**Simplicity** · 7th March 2022, 07:46 AM

MA,
There’s knows stoping you the plane is definitely looking good, can’t wait to see it done.

Cheers Matt.

**Mountain Ash** · 7th March 2022, 12:19 PM

Thanks Matt. I would still like to get a hold of some 3" or ideally 4" Beech one day.

I also used some of the Blood wood for the new handle in my mortise chisels. It turns and sands very nicely

**Simplicity** · 7th March 2022, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mountain Ash

Thanks Matt. I would still like to get a hold of some 3" or ideally 4" Beech one day.

I also used some of the Blood wood for the new handle in my mortise chisels. It turns and sands very nicely

MA,
Blood wood could easily become my favourite wood to use,if i had to choose one.
If i could get a big enough piece too make a closed saw handle, i would consider putting all other projects too one side.
So I’m with you there.

Cheers Matt.

**IanW** · 7th March 2022, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Mountain Ash

...... I would still like to get a hold of some 3" or ideally 4" Beech one day.......

You better take to patrolling the streets in heavy storms with your chainsaw, ready to pounce when a nice old yard tree comes down!

Wouldn't Myrtle beech be as good as "real" beech? I think planemaker has used it in years past & he would be the best person to comment on its suitability. It's a little less dense than European Fagus, but is as nice to work with. I don't know how stable it is, but genuine beech isn't a super-stable wood unless cut with the right grain orientation from a good, mature tree.

I've read in a couple of places that red ironbark from down your way was the preferred plane wood for the Chinese cabinetmakers who came here in the 1800s - they seemed to find its properties suited their styles of planes, at least....
Cheers,

**Mountain Ash** · 7th March 2022, 09:15 PM

Friends of ours have a wonderful property not too far from us that has a couple of magnificent Myrtle Beech growing as indigenous species amognst the taller timbers. Apparently there were stands scattered about, usually in protected gullies with deep humus. The first time I saw them was near the Ada tree in Powelltown again in a sheltered gully and surrounded by a Mountain Ash forest.

**Mountain Ash** · 7th March 2022, 09:24 PM

Matt, I will have a look next time I'm at Matthews. And I will ask them about about both beech as well.

**Mountain Ash** · 10th March 2022, 09:49 PM

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Two different views of the wedge. I think I am coming round to it. Started shaping handle too.

**Simplicity** · 10th March 2022, 10:20 PM

I like it [emoji106].

Cheers Matt.

**Mountain Ash** · 14th March 2022, 04:22 PM

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Handle shaped

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Handle fitted (temporarily)

**Simplicity** · 14th March 2022, 09:42 PM

Handle fitted(temporarily) looks fantastic, an I’m now re thinking beech.
Sir that plane is looking really great.

Cheers Matt.

**D.W.** · 15th March 2022, 12:18 AM

beech is a much prettier wood than most folks give it credit for - *if* it's sawn nicely like that and the quartered side can show.

(I don't want to infringe on the thread posting planes - this is to show off the wood and not the plane).

https://i.imgur.com/RnBIwC0.jpg

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