This is going to be a new project for me - I want to make one of these!

 

Boxwood Mitre Plane detail shots.

With a few tweaks I will be ready to put it to use.

Once happy I think it will go in the 'to sell' pile.

It was only a test of my skill - not a plane I need or want to use...

Oh yea - got to stamp my BN in - did not want to rush that - got to be spot on.

Think I might do the blade as well - make use of that fly press!

 Boxwood Mitre Plane by BN.

Finished 17.09.2012, my Birthday!

Must get the next iphone - its got a much better camera...



It is not even dry properly yet, but I had to sharpen up the blade and try it on some end grain.

This is the shot of a plane we all expect after all.

There are a few things to do to fine tune it yet.

It is the first time I have ever made this type of plane.

About 16 hours spent all together - a slow steady make for me.

I am sure I could get this down to around 10-12 in the next couple of planes...



Getting there slowly...

 

 

Everything 'off the chisel' so far on this wedge...

Got to do some of that horrible sanding business I suppose,

its what everyone expects, wants to see, otherwise....well.....

Might look like you made it with a sharp tool,

and we can't be having any of that now.

(well not today with this plane)

 

 

I like the ( ) and the ((  )) which is going on...

if you know what I mean?

 

Ummm - we have a problem.

The mouth was cut for the first test blade that I snecked.

Now however I prefer this other rounded end blade.

But this exits the mouth in a different position all together.

One blade has a micro fine mouth (silly size)

The other is huge, ahhhhahhahahahha...

 

Its not my fault! I thought the reference point would be the same.

They are both bevel up after all...

Here is some old work of mine, just to show a technical side...

The chair is maple and hand made steel hinges, rubber covered wire seat.

It folds into a tube and was made in 1996.

 

 

Can you see that I had a theme at the time?

This piece was made just before the chair.

I was mad on Hyperbolic Parabolids.

Ended up writing my Thesis on Tensile Architecture...

 

I could not figure out how to make a jig to hold a ping pong ball still while I drilled it.

This had to be very accurate as well. Balls filled with Plaster.

I asked the head of the furniture course, Phil Hussey and got his answer.

I asked another lecturer who specialised in metal, Ian, got his sketches too.

Then, still not happy with the replies, went to the head of technical drawing -
Ivor I think he was called. And got some complicated sketched from him.

In the end I came up with a simpler better solution than all of them.

This was a real learning experience for me, one I hold close as I teach everyday.
Often children come up with much simpler ways of looking at the world.
I tend to over complicate my designs and solutions.
Too much thinking can be slow and bad.

 

 

I am tired of much of that. I used to study Philosophy, now I study Zen.
I suppose this is what happens when you have 2 young boys.

Our course was run by Philip Hussey and his identical twin brother, Trevor, was head of Philosophy and Sociology. He taught my girlfriend of the time.
We used to compare their handwriting and style when we had essays handed back, amazing brains and multi layered, branching styles of feedback.

So I got into Philosophy from talking to Phil who turned me on to Bertrand Russell, my favourite Philosopher for many reasons, the obvious one occurs to you once you have read a few of his works. Try 'In praise of Idleness' or 'The conquest of happiness'  and 'The problems of Philosophy' are a good start.
 

So Phil said one day why do you not go to my brothers lectures?

So I started going to his classes - writing essays for him to mark, one minute I would be chatting to Trevor, then literally within 5 mins Phil, very wierd experience as they often wore similar clothing.

 

Phil told me a story about Betrand Russell once. Him and his brother (who both had degrees in Philosophy - funnily Phils being a first, open university from memory and Trevor only a 2:1 - although from Oxford / Cambridge) rode on their Bikes to Betrand's house - he was old and not well at the time I think. It was a long journey for them and purely 'off the cuff' lets go see our hero!
When they got there, a bit scared and feeling silly knowing he would be too busy and important for them, they went and knocked at the door.
A woman opened the door and said 'ahhh! are you the 2 boys we are expecting?!'
They just stood stunned by what she had said, thinking
'we could lie and get in to meet him'
but no, instead Phil said 'no sorry we are not' and the reply was
'well he is too busy to meet anyone' so they got back onto their bikes and rode home.

So I feel you get out what you put in.
You either get in deep or roll up your trousers.

When standing - just stand.
When sitting - just sit.
Above all - do not wobble.

 

 

 

 



Sharp tools, soft wood. Happy Days.

 

 

Note cushion ready in case of accidental dropping of my precious...

Boxwood Mitre Plane - work in Progress.

Many thanks to Bill Carter and David Barron as being the main inspiration's for this.

 

 

You know some time soon I am going to soak this baby in oil.

nearly done...

African Blackwood  mouth closer fitted. Nice fine mouth - perhaps too fine for those of you in the know.

I think I will make another one in Box as this one was too low for my liking.

25mm MDF, spray adhesive and fine grade abrasive paper - a powerful combination in fine finishing.

It is a process I would rather not use, I did give up using abrasive paper for a long time.

Most planes I make never see ANY abrasive paper - something I pride myself on.

But this one is going to have a good fine sanding on these boards...

First fit of wedge to get it right.

No.5 does it for me.

This is starting to look like a plane now me thinks?

I will not use a snecked iron as I feel it will be too close to the wedge to justify its existence.

Mind you looking at the plane for a while I have come to the conclusion the wedge needs shortening.

So off to the workshop again...

 

Please remember if you are reading this - I haven't got a clue how to make this Plane.

I am simply doing lots of research and using common cabinetmaking logic.

Looking at lots of other planes as well of course.

Making the rest up as i go along.

 

 

Carbon paper straight edge with corner!

 

I did not have a saw that would fit into a 25mm gap.

So I came up with the idea of making a perfect wedge and knocking it into place.

This lines up the saw so the blade just rests on the wood.

I thought this would be accurate and guaranteed they were parallel.

 

Loads of careful chisel work.

I ask myself all the time lately:

'Is this fun? Is it making me happy?'

 

I was a bit naughty and whacked a fairly blunt blade and an old wedge in.

Took some shavings anyway with a 10mm wide open mouth!

Good way to end the evening.

9 hours work so far - quite a few left I think.

Perhaps 12 - 16 hours total?

15 is a good number, I will try and stick to that.

 

 

 

This is my 100th Blog Post!

Back to the Bill Carter inspired Mitre Plane in Box Wood...

The plane is in there - I am sure of it!

Lovely grain, you can see the curve of the wood - I am not fussed its not straight myself...

Drilling out the waste - back to familiar territory - just like carving but with straight lines.

Japanese Iwasaki carving file with Raspberry Jamwood Handle.

Umm yummy - very nice tool for flattening the bed and SO much cheaper

than the Lie Nielson Plane Floats!

It is so sharp I am protecting my finger with a leather stall here.

Here is a cool idea I have come up with lately:

You need 3 things.

1. Carbon paper

2. A flat surface (here I am using 25mm thick MDF)

3. Spray adhesive

Now what I have here is a flat surface with carbon on it - just ready to rub off....

As you can see one quick rub on the bed to highlight the high points.

Re-usable - over and over - very fast to use and cheap to make.

Stick it on any contoured surface.

Fold in half and pull through a hinged door to highlight stick points.

This chisel is completely BLUNT.

Ground square on the grinder - as per Bill Carter's Top Tip.

But I never realised you could take shavings in almost any direction like this...

Slowly getting there now...