A voice from the past.

When I was in my first year of design school - we had a massive 20' wide wall covered in cork. Every week, we would pin our work to the wall and critique it. At first, no one said anything - we didn't know each other and were too scared, really. Then we got to know one another and started critiquing... bare knuckle style. It got pretty nasty, and it was apparent that the critiques were motivated more by who stole who’s girlfriend or boyfriend rather than actual design. Thankfully - we got over that pretty quickly and started to learn how to see and then to critique. At the time, I did not really appreciate how valuable this skill was. I call it a skill because I truly believe it is. It is one thing to say “oh I hate that” or “that is ugly,” everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions - but to be able to articulate the “why ”of that opinion is much harder. We learned that style and taste are not the same as good design. There are lots of things out there that I do not care to own, use or interact with - but that does not mean they are not well designed - they just don’t appeal to me. In my opinion - something that is well designed performs its intended function extremely well - and is also visually appealing.

One of my most memorable phone calls with Brian Buckner was about 2 hours long discussing and comparing the effects of two different plane sidewall profiles. We were tossing around words and phrases like “this one looks faster” and “this one looks like a horse with a broken back”. We were looking at the same images and discussing the differences - it was pure design bliss. We were using a design language that we both understood, and while it was, IS over the top - it allowed us to design together despite the 1,000 miles between us.

About 2 months ago - I started a new XSNo.4. This was no ordinary XS - this one would have a Titanium sole and sides. I was talking with a very good friend when Titanium entered the conversation and I have been intrigued ever since. Titanium offers some unique considerations. It is rust proof, light weight, has a great color and just about indestructible. It is also tenacious, does not like to bend, nor does it like to be piened. but... I was interested in at least trying it.

The shell took at least 10 times longer than the same shell made from steel or bronze. It was brutal to say the least. It took an 8' pipe clamp (and 2 hours) to bend the sidewalls into shape.

Now for the infill - and this is where the design side of this comes to play. In my mind - Titanium is a pretty high tech material - and I thought I should continue down that unconventional vein. I pondered a synthetic infill. I talked to a friend who does a lot of machining of various materials and he suggested a product called Delrin. So I looked into it and found a piece of bright white Delrin. I started to get excited - cold Titanium sides and sole, bright white infill... it has to be a stainless steel lever cap! In my mind's eye - it looked awesome.



Working with Delrin sucks. It is messy in a different and more annoying way than Ebony. It is staticky and it stinks. It sticks to files and rasps worse than wood does. Did I mention it is staticky? But I kept going - it would be worth it in the end.



The only joy I experienced working with Delrin is that it planes well.

Piening was a disaster - I was convinced it would fall apart when I took it out of the jig. One of the other great things about Titanium is that if you are piening and hit an edge - that edge breaks off. Surprisingly - the shell stayed together once I took it out of the jig. Hmmm... maybe all is not lost?


So I kept going and installed the infill - using 1/8" Titanium medical grade pins no less:)



Now that I was this far - I just had to see how badly the dovetails worked. To my shock and amazement - there was only one broken corner that did not lap out.

And suddenly - out of nowhere - a little college age voice appeared... “its plastic, its plastic, its plastic”. It was late, I decided to call it a day and sleep on it. The plane sat on the bench for 2 months. Some days the voice was quite and I wanted to finish it - but some days the voice was screaming.

So I waited.

I sent photos to a few people to get their feedback. Everyone understood how it evolved - but they still didn’t like it.

As Berea started getting closer and closer, I realized I had to make a decision and finish the plane. A long phone call with Robin Lee pushed me off the fence.



My friend David Antscherl gave me a wonderful old piece of English boxwood that was left over from one of his exquisite model ships - it seemed like the right infill for the plane (be sure to follow the link - his work is staggering!).


I was excited about the plane again - and as the boxwood went in - it “felt” right.








Here is what I have learned.

I will never use a synthetic again - I enjoy working with wood not plastic. I will not make another coffin plane with Titanium sides again, but... I think there is a place for Titanium in planes. I suspect the college voice will guide me if I pay attention.