Finishing the mitre plane
With the french polish on the wedge completed - it was time to get off the pot and decide how to finish the top edges of the sidewalls. The Norris A11 has chamfered edges, and while it looks nice on that model, I didn’t think it would work along the front edge of this plane (the A11 does not have a piece of metal across the front). The other typical mitre treatment is to round the edges over which is what I opted to do. I was surprised at how quickly this went - much simpler than a beveled chamfer.
Here are a few shots of the finished plane and a few detail shots of the adjuster and the inside of the front bun.
And for the grand finish - the first engrain shavings...
At the time of this post, I had used this plane for a total of 1/2 an hour... but there were a few things that immediately stood out.
As I was building this plane it started to feel a little “big” and I was concerned about it. Joe Steiner stopped in the other night to keep working on his XSNo.4, and brought a wonderful Moon mitre plane with him (at my request). It was quite a bit smaller - and added to my fear about the size of this mitre. The Moon had wonderful rounded edges - including the perimeter of the sole. It was extremely comfortable to shoot with. At this stage, I had not yet decided on the edge treatment and all the edges were still quite sharp from being lapped - so my mitre felt quite uncomfortable in comparison. The experience with the Moon really informed my decision to round the edges as opposed to chamfering them.
With the edges rounded - it feels like a completely different plane. It is very comfortable to hold now and the mass is wonderful in use. Once again, I am reminded of why it is so important to “prototype” a plane first. There will be a few small tweaks to the production model, but it will have more to do with my building process than the final result.
I am going to be in Oakland CA next weekend attending the Lie Nielsen show at the Crucible and will have this mitre plane with me for anyone who wants to try it out.
posted by Konrad at
13:31
13 Comments
13 Comments:
Scrumptious. I look forward to seeing it in Oakland. Sort of. You know, because I might have to start saving for one...
Safe travels.
Konrad,
How many violins did Antonio Stradivarius build?
How many planes will Konrad Sauer make?
Nicely done, once again.
Dan
Hi Narayan,
Deneb is bringing a shooting board for us to use - saves me from packing it with my Star Wars shirt.
Cheers,
Konrad
Thanks Dan.
So far - a little over 200... I think.
Cheers,
Konrad
Really good to talk to you at the LN Hand Tool Event in Oakland. Your planes are spectacular, it was a treat to try them out.
Thanks for all your advice on toolmaking and my saws, you were most helpful!
This new miter plane is really nice, as were all the other planes you had there. I regret not trying out the jointer, it was so big and massive and those hunks of ebony really make a bold statement. Next time I won't be so intimidated to try it out. :-)
I really enjoyed talking to you.
Regards,
Alan DuBoff - Traditional Toolworks
Konrad,
I'm thinking a steel and Brazilian rosewood mitre plane would go nicely with a steel and Brazilian rosewood panel plane. Hmmmm.
Dan
Hi Dan,
Why yes - yes it would:)
Cheers,
Konrad
Hi Alan,
It was great to meet you as well. Best of luck with the saw adventure. Remember to keep this in mind - it has to be fun.
Cheers,
Konrad
Konrad,
I'm trying to keep it fun, and to kick it up a notch so to speak. I'm making some headway on the inlays. A luthier friend was helpful in providing some old pieces of ivory also. I've been mocking up some inlays and will be trying some in the next few days.
So refreshing to see and use your planes, and looking over the pics on your site makes me realize how much I love bronze. I have truly become a bronze whore over the past year...:-/
I immediately spot that legendary pink hue that bronze throws off so nicely...nice work! I don't know which I find nicer, the No 4 smoother with it's mystery wood, or ebony/mystery wood mini miters...are the mini miters one piece body? Seems like you must have milled those from a solid piece of bronze...or did you join the ends on the front/rear? Beautiful work!
Regards,
Alan
Hi Alan,
The mini mitres are dovetailed as well - there is a piece of bronze dovetailed across the front. The large all steel mitre is done the same way - it is not milled from solid.
Cheers,
Konrad
Konrad,
I stared at the mini miters last night and couldn't see the joint for the front.
I was just staring at it and can't for the life of me see it now, either.
Is that a blind dovetail with a miter on the outside corner?
Very nice work.
Regards,
Alan
You certainly make beautiful tools. I'm inspired to make a mitre plane for myself on the A11 style ,but not sure where to start .I will have to do some research and see what I can do.
Kev.
Hi Kev,
thanks for the comments. There is a fair amount of info online now - at least compared to when I started making planes. If I may be so bold as to suggest a simpler plane to start with? Mitres are not all that easy to make when compared to a smoother or something. Best of luck with it.
Cheers,
Konrad
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