I walked through a very dangerous door today.

Today started off as a pretty uneventful day - I headed out to pick up some plane materials. As I was pulling into the parking lot - I noticed a sign on a nearby window "True North Cycles". As I got out of the car, I was trying to figure out where I knew the name from. I went about my business and as I returned to my car, checked my watch.... yup - I had a few minutes to spare...

I walked in to a very cool spaces filled with bike parts and some rather magnificent completed bikes in a showroom. Then a guy wearing a toque and a Volkswagen hoodie comes walking out from the back room. A good sign. After quick introductions - we dove right in.

Hugh Black (the guy has to be a dude with a name like Hugh Black!) is the man - a custom frame designer and builder. This place was awesome. He invited me to the back where the frames are made. I have to say I was totally out of my element - but I knew enough to be impressed. There were frames all around me - in various stages of construction. Hugh handed me a titanium frame - it weighed less than a lever cap!

And here is the danger part. I am often accused of not playing fair - sending photos of Rosewood & bronze, Ebony and steel. Well, today I can honestly say I know how that feels. How does one resist all that aluminum, Titanium and carbon fiber goodness hanging all around? I mean come-on... look at that gorgeous orange frame! The bug has bit hard and my drive home was filled with visions of frames dancing in my head.

Then I realized where I had seen the True North logo - Hugh had made a bike for my cousin Jake.

A refreshing return to tradition

Part way though this plane I realized this is the most "traditional" infill plane I have made to date. It was great to return to the roots of British infill planes. This is a 16-1/2" long A1 panel plane - infilled with Rosewood, 01 tool steel sides and sole and a bronze lever cap and lever cap screw. This combination of materials is the epitome of British infills.





I was also reminded why Rosewood was the infill material of choice - it is one of the finest woods to work with. The front bun on this plane was roughed out in 2003 and I have been waiting to use it ever since. I knew the figure would be good... but this really knocked my socks off!



One of the challenges of having such a great piece of wood for the front bun, is continuing it to the rear infill. The black streaks that run through the rear infill and handle certainly tie it all together.



Coming off the heels of two large jointers - lapping this plane was a real treat. For what it's worth... the lapping music of choice was Ministry & I used 12 sheets of lapping paper.

Reducing a perfect piece of Ebony from this...

To these!


With 18" left over. The narrow piece is 1-1/4" thick - perfect for handles. The other piece is 3" thick.


This was a 2 day process - and I have become much better at just starting into it (as opposed to staring at it for 4 hours!). I still stare at it (planning my attack)... but start cutting much more confidently. It certainly helps to have such fine material - there was very little waste from this piece.



Pictured above is another piece of Ebony I worked with. This was also an exceptional piece - the only waste being the bits between plane parts.

Onto the African Blackwood!

more stainless steel & Ebony

I have just completed the finishing touches on another A2ss. This one is 22-1/2" long and was quite different to build than its big brother. Working with the stainless was certainly more time consuming - but otherwise it felt very familiar - like the other 22-1/2" A2's I have built. It worked out wonderfully - here are a few quick pictures of the pair of jointers.





Oh, a few people have asked about the "green mallet" in the background. I will be commenting on it shortly - there is a great story behind it.