Thread: Plane Complete, Ready for Judging

Ian, would it be a good idea to also mention the exact due date here again? Would make it easier to keep track.

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Done.

Thanks Ian.

But also thanks too Derek and Alan as well,
It’s not going to be an easy task judging by what’s being build.
Thank you Judges.

Cheers Matt.

Hi all. For some time I have watched the YouTube postings of a Polish planemaker called Stavros Garkos. Inspired by his build of a chamfer plane, and seeking to improve the chamfers I put on the wooden planes I am already making (and wanting to join in the fun - of course) I present my entry.

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Fortunately I was able to copy his methods fairly easily, for the most part, but I was glad this was not the first time I had tried making a wooden handplane. Buying a decent plank of Beech before Covid 19 struck was particularly timely and the blade/cap iron was something I had had for a while. The brass was another matter.

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A previous life building period fencing (pickets, woven wire, ripple iron, etc) had provided me with a few brass letterbox flaps and one of these donated material for the wear plate, width adjuster bolts and slot covers. Making all these parts was a first for my planemaking journey.

My biggest hurdle to overcome was getting the movable throat to sit properly as the wedge tightened against it. Assumptions about flatness were proven wrong and it took the making of a second wedge to improve things to the point where I was happy.

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The first few uses reinforced the need for good technique (easy to plane too much off at the end of the stroke) and it wasn't as self aligning as I thought it might be. With the timber held in a vise the vertical face becomes the reference point and guides the cut. To even up the width, dropping the rear of the plane onto the edge facing up helps gets the sections missed. Using an old tapered blade and matching cap iron is always an advantage and it's always nice to find the lamination in the blade as you clean them up. And it was funny how the lumps in the cap iron forced a redesign of the wedge shape ehich turned out really nice. I'm happy to with curve I was able to create in the rear of the body for my hand.

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And as I always like to confirm (as much to myself as anyone) it works

Well Done MA.

I think I can comfortably say at this stage your the winner, well know I can’t, that’s up to the Judges but there are a few more months to go.


But wow it was awesome following your build.

Cheers Matt.

MA

As Matt said, awesome! You may have to add some pine shavings, but I feel sure you are allowed to add those.

Regards
Paul

Thanks guys. I have always been a bit wary of sharing step by step but I enjoy reading about others doing it so......why not? Turns out it can be fun to document and a little bit addictive - has anybody seen my post? What did they say? etc. The best thing about this process is increasing the pool of knowledge and making it available to all.

Well, I think I can say I'm done - enough time has passed in the "completed" stage to say this is as good as I can make it, so I offer my plane (kanna, in Japanese) to the most esteemed Judges.

For those who followed my build thread, the progress was well documented and I won't rehash the details here. Of course, I can't take credit for the quality of the blade and chip breaker, only the fact that when paired with the "body", suitable performance can be achieved. Also, the beauty of wood, purpleheart in my case, (taking nothing away from metal, which has its own charms when fashioned into a tool), can't be denied - one of the main reasons, I think, that attracts people to making things out of wood.

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This isn't my first home-made Japanese plane, but I'm happy to say its my best. I really enjoyed the challenge - both making the plane and equally, sharing the process with a bunch of fine people with some remarkable skills and knowledge. So thanks for the opportunity!

Good luck to all the contestants - looking forward to seeing your finished planes ,
Steve

Sheets

It's a beauty and just look at that shaving. terrific!

Regards
Paul

Hi Steve. Well done. The purpleheart is stunning and the simplicity is so right.

Sheets,

That looks outstanding, love the choice of timber,
It’s been fantastic following along on journey,
I was only thinking this morning while on the way to work, it’s been quite on the challenge front,then you pop up with your fantastic Japanese plane.
I would be very surprised if the esteemed judges did not award you runner up second place.[emoji6]

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Mountain Ash

Hi Steve. Well done. The purpleheart is stunning and the simplicity is so right.

I had nothing to do with this plane ?

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I would be very surprised if the esteemed judges did not award you runner up second place.[emoji6]

Cheers Matt.

And deservedly so - there was early agreement amongst the important principlals (don't remember you being there???), that the awards go in order of submission for judging (and to those who used primarily wood) - saves a lot of time you know. So Mountain Ash is first and me second. Who will be third?

Also, (risking the wrath of the Judges by cluttering up this thread with frivolity) - for those making things out of metal, extra points should be awarded for the largest pile of spent grit (rust to dust, so to speak). So save your sweepings and shake out your filters - might as well have something to show for your efforts.

A very impressive shaving from a very impressing plane. Well done.

Originally Posted by Sheets

And deservedly so - there was early agreement amongst the important principlals (don't remember you being there???), that the awards go in order of submission for judging (and to those who used primarily wood) - saves a lot of time you know. So Mountain Ash is first and me second. Who will be third?

Also, (risking the wrath of the Judges by cluttering up this thread with frivolity) - for those making things out of metal, extra points should be awarded for the largest pile of spent grit (rust to dust, so to speak). So save your sweepings and shake out your filters - might as well have something to show for your efforts.

Um well
One could use the argument that us metal heads are really just re purposing timber.

(The iron ore deposits began forming when the first organisms capable of photosynthesis began releasing oxygen into the waters. This oxygen immediately combined with the abundant dissolved iron to produce hematite or magnetite. ... Steel Mill: Most iron ore is used to make steel.)

But that would just be being picky,and I may be completely out of my depths hear.[emoji6][emoji848]

Cheers Matt.