Thread: Squirrel Block plane , help kind of.

Matt

your other option is to incorporate the squirrel's tail into the lever cap.
Perhaps easier than trying to incorporate the tail into the plane's body?

Examples:
Lie Nielsen's violin makers plane (essentially a copy of Stanley's #101). No. 101 Violin Maker's Plane Lie-Nielsen Toolworks
The body is 3-7/16" long x 1-3/16" wide x 1-5/8" high. The blade is 7/8" wide. Please forgive the imperial dimensions.

or Veritas's slightly larger pocket plane (4.5" long x 1.25" wide)
(I couldn't resist copying and pasting the "shiny" stainless "40th anniversary" version, but Veritas also make a plain metal version)




BTW
both planes are, for my hands, comfortable in use and I find easy to use.

Originally Posted by ian

Matt

your other option is to incorporate the squirrel's tail into the lever cap.
Perhaps easier than trying to incorporate the tail into the plane's body?

Examples:
Lie Nielsen's violin makers plane (essentially a copy of Stanley's #101). No. 101 Violin Maker's Plane Lie-Nielsen Toolworks
The body is 3-7/16" long x 1-3/16" wide x 1-5/8" high. The blade is 7/8" wide. Please forgive the imperial dimensions.

or Veritas's slightly larger pocket plane (4.5" long x 1.25" wide)
(I couldn't resist copying and pasting the "shiny" stainless "40th anniversary" version, but Veritas also make a plain metal version)




BTW
both planes are, for my hands, comfortable in use and I find easy to use.

Ian,

Thanks for that, there certainly some food for thought.
I will ask auntie Google to work out the old measurement system for me [emoji6].

The Leevalley plane certainly looks nice.

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Ian,

Thanks for that, there certainly some food for thought.
I will ask auntie Google to work out the old measurement system for me [emoji6].

The Lee Valley plane certainly looks nice.

Matt,
No need to use "auntie Google", I have both planes here in Canada and can easily measure their mm dimensions

After many sleepless nights, quite a lot of soul searching,for which i still can’t locate mine.
Quite a few glazed over looks for which Sally questions wether or not, she made a sensible decision many moons ago.

Scanning countless pics on Auntie Google of 17th century planes ,well into the night.

Baldric, I’ve come up with a cunning plan [emoji851].

The soul will be 01 tool steel extending beyond the perimeter of the body by a few mm,not sure wether i will silver solder the body to the soul(the easier option)or attach the soul too the sides with through dovetails ???.
(Or really ,really fancy Cupid bow cutout mortices)
The cutting iron will be 01 tool 6mm steel at 45 degrees bevel down,same as my plane competition plane a.k.a. the Body.
The sides of the Squirrel plane will be four mm brass the Squirrel tail will either be 01 Tool steel or brass or a combination of both.
Front bun to be similar to a violin scroll, timber type undecided but I’m thinking similar to Box wood, immmmm.
The Lever cap I’m also not sure of how i want to go with that yet either.
Overall ,overall length 130 mm width 35 to 40 mm but ,that may change.
I think at this stage I might do a quick and dirty mock up before i start cutting metal.






Cheers Matt

I like your design. I also like the idea of through dovetails. I am planning similar technique for one of my next plane builds. So happy to watch you doing it first [emoji6]

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Originally Posted by Cklett

I like your design. I also like the idea of through dovetails. I am planning similar technique for one of my next plane builds. So happy to watch you doing it first [emoji6]

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Thanks Cklett, I hope the wait is not too long [emoji6].

Cheers Matt.

Due to Cklett, insistence that i pull my finger out and get on with it,i did.[emoji6]
After an early attempt of trying to make a model with clay,that well, didn’t go to plan.

I brought some Balsa Wood from Bunnies land, and knocked this out this afternoon, after my Sunday Granny nap.
Also, bringing back boy hood memories of my bedroom being covered in bits of Balsa wood all over the place, i was very much in to model building as a youngster.

So ,I’m very happy with it’s proportions it looks good,it feels comfortable in my hand(Don’t [emoji57]).
But, I’m happy for constructive criticism if your nice about it.

But, unfortunately ,it does have the appearance of a Sleigh,but well, it is that kind of that season, even if I claim to be an atheist.

I haven’t made the front bun yet for the model, and probably won’t due to I can’t be bothered.

I also haven’t figured out the lever cap extra,but will work on that with the model ,before I start cutting up metal.




That’s a Stanley 60 1/2 in back ground of the last pic for scale.

Cheers Matt.

Matt

That's looking good. I was pleased to hear that the rear handle is going to be metal as I could not envisage any degree of longevity in timber even if the plane did not fall on the floor.

Balsa....Like you, it takes me back a bit. Well a bit further actually.

Regards
Paul

Looks very intriguing Matt. It seems you are fixed up if you are going with with the “Snow White” theme. But as you are building a Christmas Sleigh Plane, I can help with a Red Nose if you want to go that way, I have a few red timbers here if you want to go the Rudolf way, just give the nod mate .

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Looks very intriguing Matt. It seems you are fixed up if you are going with with the “Snow White” theme. But as you are building a Christmas Sleigh Plane, I can help with a Red Nose if you want to go that way, I have a few red timbers here if you want to go the Rudolf way, just give the nod mate .

Thanks Bret,
Appreciate the offer But White timber types please.
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Cheers Matt


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Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Matt

That's looking good. I was pleased to hear that the rear handle is going to be metal as I could not envisage any degree of longevity in timber even if the plane did not fall on the floor.

Balsa....Like you, it takes me back a bit. Well a bit further actually.

Regards
Paul

Paul,
Yes the handle would definitely need to be metal,otherwise there would certainly be tears an screams of anger in the distant future.

Cheers Matt

Originally Posted by Simplicity

But, unfortunately ,it does have the appearance of a Sleigh,but well, it is that kind of that season, even if I claim to be an atheist.

I fully support all forms of atheism but perhaps in this matter you could lean towards being a dyslexic devil worshiper; and simply say you’ve sold your soul to Santa

I showed the mock-up to SWMBO and she agrees it does have a sleigh-ish look about it but she also sees a graceful swan in there. Personally I like the idea of a sleigh; it would be unusual but I can’t really see how any aspect could compromise it’s functionality. I recall Kuffy making a jack plane in the shape of a sports car; although it cut beautifully as a smoother ergonomically it would have been a bit challenging when taking deeper cuts.

I’m currently using the LN at the moment making some 11/16” wide ebony slats for Kumiko; that little squirrel tail is just perfect for taking a gossamer thin smoothing cut.

Hi Matt. Thanks for reinvigorating my plane building tendencies. What do you think of the 60 1/2? Does the lower angle make a significant difference?

Originally Posted by Mountain Ash

Hi Matt. Thanks for reinvigorating my plane building tendencies. What do you think of the 60 1/2? Does the lower angle make a significant difference?

M,A.
Short answer is I like it a lot.
It fits comfortably in my average size hand.
I use it a lot for little planning jobs, quite a bit.
I think in the right circumstances,yes the lower blade angle works, ie across difficult grain, a little bit of end grain.
But it also helps to have it razor sharp.

Cheers Matt.