Thread: Bulk Brass Order

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

I have been talking to Lucky at George White.

So are people happy to use 63.5 x 25 for the lever caps? And are people happy to wait until October to get it?

You guys making planes...
Hate to be like a fly in the ointment...if I am...slap me on the back of the head


What kind of lever caps are you blokes making that are more than 25mm thick? I make a variation on the traditional type and start with 19mm and I take it down to 15mm at the boss (under the knob) and 13 - 14mm for the thickest part lower down. As a reference, Spiers levers are about the same, but recessed underneath and about 4mm at the thinest part.

Regards,
Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for that, what I understand you are saying is that 19mm is plenty thick enough for lever caps, that's good enough advice for me..

So TS, what's the availablity of 19mm?

Regards
Ray

Ray,
here is the next one marked out on the lever stock.

I've made a few from this piece, and still have enough for 5 or 6 more. I have been known to use the drop mitre saw to cut this stuff in the past, but it makes an awful mess that way. I use a drill and hack saw and files now, much more civilized.
Regards,
Peter

There is not reason to restrict lever caps to 19 mm, modern infill maker routinely make lever caps thicker then 19 mm. Two prominent examples are Carl Holtey and Philip Marcou.

The reasoning for a thicker leaver cap is to increase the weight and mass of the plane and to give the plane more inertia, this is even more critical with smoothing planes, which generally have a shorter body length.

Secondly bear in mind that you will be using 6 mm brass sides, so to maintain the proportions of the plane you will need to make the lever cap thicker.

Thirdly, Ray you will pay more per length of 63 x 19 mm then the rest of us will for a same size piece of 63 x 25 mm as the 25 mm will come from a whole 3600 mm length making it substantially cheaper then the 63 x 19 mm.

Lastly, you can always file away brass but you cannot add on. The 25 mm gives you room to shape and form.

Ray,
If 19mm is the stuff you want to use, and it doesn't come together in the group buy, I can let you have enough for a couple of caps from my 2 pieces. I usually go to the scrap yard just near to me and get it for $8 / kg. There have always been pieces there over the last 12 months. They are 3/4 x 4 inch and cut into pieces about 6 or 8 inches long. I will be driving past there tomorrow.
I usually search out stuff close to my design thickness because I've filled metal about 6 days a week for over 30 years, and lately do it reluctantly. )

Regards,
Peter.

For the plane makers
...just got a note from WA asking about mitre plane critical dimensions and remembered I made this page for a bloke in the US last year.
All the pics are thumbnails, so click on them for a large image.
spiers improved mitre plane

Regards,
Peter

Hi TS, Peter,

Looking at George White's on-line catalog, I notice that 19mm doesn't come in 63 mm wide. The only width's that are going to be useful, are 75 and 100 mm... Doing the layout crossways, 100mm should be plenty. ( I don't have any dimensions, only guessing)

from http://www.georgewhite.com.au/produc...=BB-F&sortby=2

I will be in Melb this Friday, and I can call in to GW to check it out. (TS, if there's anything you want checking out let me know)

All the same TS, I will (of course) still honor my part of the order you are organizing. Any extra brass will never go astray.

Regards
Ray

This is what I have planned for my lever cap.

Attachment 81855

Looking at George White maybe better it would be better to get 100 x 25 mm OR 100 x 19 mm brass flat for those who want a smaller size.

This way people can get the exact length of brass flat to match the total width of all there lever caps plus a little for kerf and clean up for each lever cap.

With the 63 mm wide you would waste 23 mm if you made a 40 mm wide lever cap.

I will send out a PM to everyone shortly.

Check out this lever cap.

Hi TS If you are still looking for a home for two bits 70 X6 X400 I'd be delighted to take them.
Re the caps, I've got rough cast bronze cap coming from St James Tool Co, US$15. Will post photos when they arrive.

Pommyphil the two pieces of 70 X6 X400 are yours.

Ray153 and Brendan1152, I emailed Lucky at George White and he informs me that he has no alloy 260 penning brass in 4 mm even in scraps. Outside of buying a whole sheet of 4 mm alloy 260 penning brass, I am unable to secure any 4 mm stock for you, so I have dropped them from your order.

I will send out PM's shortly.

Here is how the order stands at this time:

Ironwood

• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 1000 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Sheet - 60 x 6 x 1000 mm - Alloy 260

RayG

• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 4000 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Flats - 63 x 38 x 100 mm - Alloy 380

Ray153

• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 500 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Sheet - 50 x 6 x 500 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Rod - 30 x 500 mm - Alloy 385
• Brass Flats - 63 x 38 x 400 mm - Alloy 380

Mat

• Brass Rod - 30 x 600 mm - Alloy 385

Thornburn

• Brass Sheet - 50 x 6 x 500 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 1000 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Flat - 63 x 38 x 500 mm - Alloy 380

Brendan1152

• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 2000 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Flats - 63 x 38 x 500 mm - Alloy 380

Caliban

• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 1000 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Flats - 63 x 38 mm x 200 mm - Alloy 380

Dynoforce

• Brass Sheet - 50 x 6 x 600 mm - Alloy 380

Thumbsucker

• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 3680 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Rod - 30 x 600 mm - Alloy 385
• Brass Flats - 63 x 38 mm x 1000 mm - Alloy 380

Kevjed

• Brass Sheet - 40 x 6 x 500 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Sheet - 60 x 6 x 3000 mm - Alloy 260
• Brass Sheet - 80 x 6 x 2000 mm - Alloy 260

Funkychicken

• Brass Rod - 10 x 300 mm - Alloy 385
• Brass Rod - 5 x 300 mm - Alloy 385
• Brass Rod - 30 x 100 mm - Alloy 385

Big Shed

• Brass Rod - 30 x 600 mm - Alloy 385

pommyphil

• Brass Sheet - 70 x 6 x 800 mm - Alloy 260

Hi,
Either thickness will do me, I will go with whatever we order.
Regards
Brendan

I have been holding off on the levercap brass, as I thought 38mm was too thick for me, I would have to resaw it into more suitable size.

If we are going with thinner stock, I'll put my hand up for 200x100x(whatever is ordered), my preferance would be the 19mm, as I think that would be plenty, but if the 25mm is decided on, I'll happily take that instead.

Hi TS,

My vote would be for 100mm x 19mm, (but I would be just as happy with 25mm if that's what we end up with).

Length, not critical but at least 300mm, will last me for a while.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by Brendan1152

Hi,
Either thickness will do me, I will go with whatever we order.

How much do you want?