Friday 25 March 2011

Happy Birthday James.


This is the last child in a family of three. The other two were completed before Christmas - this one is arriving in time for a birthday.




Other than the incredibly figured Rosewood - there are a few interesting features to this A5 type smoother. The first is the bed angle - 52.5 degrees. This is the highest angle A5 I have made to date and I have to say it is really comfortable and well balanced in use.




The other feature is the front bun. There is a radius across the front of the bun instead of being flat like most of my other A5’s. This radius is also on the A1 panel and the XSNo.4. It makes for an extremely comfortable grip when you cup the plane across the front (as I do).

I have been working on re-designing a familiar plane, and this front radius found its way into the new design. Now that this A5 is done - it confirms that I will absolutely keep the radius on the new plane.

Here are a few more photos.




I sent this photo to a friend of mine and he commented that he wanted to eat it (thinking caramel & chocolate). I emailed him back adding that not only does it look edible - but it smells edible too.







I included this photo because it clearly shows the radius across the front of the bun. It also shows the rough layout lines for shaping the front bun. These lines are really rough guides - the final shape is much more complex than these lines would suggest.

Here is a shot of cutting the shoulders for the over-stuffing. This is (still) a pretty nerve wracking cut.


9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gorgeous job as usual, just let me ask, that saw handle has been made by you hasnt it? and the saw, could it be from wenzloff&sons
It is extremely beautyful as your taste uses to be
Congrats ! have a nice day

25 March 2011 at 07:48  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Konrad:

Thanks for the b'day wishes.

James

25 March 2011 at 10:56  
Blogger Konrad said...

Hello Julio,

I did not make the saw - good eye though - it is a Wenzloff saw. It has an ebony handle and was made specifically for cutting exotic hardwoods. There is a matching cross-cut version as well, although the rip sees the lion’s share of the work.

Cheers,
Konrad

26 March 2011 at 08:50  
Blogger Konrad said...

You are most welcome James.

Cheers,
Konrad

26 March 2011 at 08:51  
Blogger Dave Beauchesne said...

Konrad:

That is a beautiful plane, and the figure on the rosewood is spectacular!!

Nicely done.

Dave Beauchesne

27 March 2011 at 11:26  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WOW!!! My absolute favourite so far!

I have now officially started saving for a Sauer and Steiner A5

Aled

29 March 2011 at 14:35  
Blogger FredW said...

Konrad, WOW, just WOW. Fred

5 April 2011 at 22:17  
Anonymous James said...

It is much more than "WOW" when you actually hold it in your hand. Plus it was packed with as much care as it was made. Just took some shavings: bye-bye sandpaper. Thanks again and again Konrad.

James

12 April 2011 at 18:30  
Blogger Konrad said...

Hi James,

Glad the plane arrived safe and sound. Hopefully it did not miss your actual birthday by much.

No more sandpaper indeed:)

Best wishes,
Konrad

13 April 2011 at 07:27  

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Sunday 13 March 2011

A collection of recent planes

The last couple of months have been really busy. In that time, I have had the good fortune to work with some sensational materials - and not only wood this time!

First we have another Honduran Rosewood burl filled plane - a No.4 smoother. This one has a 2" wide blade bedded at 52.5 degrees.











I never get tired of working with Honduran Rosewood burl.

The next plane is an African Blackwood filled A5. This plane has a 2" wide blade and a 50 degree bed angle.



This plane was another reminder that the coldness of steel can still work with a warm wood like African Blackwood. The first all steel plane I made was infilled with Ebony and I could not imagine another infill material working as well. This plane proved me wrong.






This was my first experience working with Damascus steel. I have wanted to try it ever since seeing Brian Buckner’s stunning Damascus steel sided planes in Feb. 2005 at a Planemakers gathering hosted by Popular Woodworking. I contacted Brian to see if he would be ok if I used Damascus in a plane - I did not want to step on his toes. Thankfully - he kindly agreed.

This is a No.4 smoother with a 2" wide blade and a bronze lever cap and lever cap screw. The ebony infill is quartersawn. This plane was tougher than I thought it would be. I started this one as a “spare”. The infills were installed and I was pondering the lever cap. I had fit a Naval brass lever cap and screw and then other more pressing work took me away from it. It sat on my bench for a few weeks. I looked at it several times every day and could not decided if I liked the Naval brass or not.

Then the phone rang.

And the plane was no longer a “spare”. I sent the below photo to the customer. The Naval brass lever cap is on the far right. I quickly duplicated the image in Photoshop and simulated a stainless steel lever cap and a bronze version.



The customer preferred the bronze and I have to say - I am so thankful, because the plane really does look the best with a bronze lever cap.



This next plane is one of those planes that will likely stand out in my memory after I retire from planemaking. The infill is Desert Ironwood, and while I have used Desert Ironwood before - this Ironwood is truly remarkable. Watching the color and grain come alive as I was working on it was amazing. I was pretty excited when I found this piece of Ironwood - but I did not expect it to be this striking.

It is also tricky wood to work with. It is extremely hard but there is a brittleness to it not unlike Madagascar Ebony. Add in all the burl and figure and it was a slow, nerve wracking process. In the end though - it was totally worth it.













This next plane is a Birds eye Boxwood XSNo.4 smoother. Steel sides and a 52.5 degree bed angle.


The infill was soaked in oil for 4 days and left to dry for a week or so. It is finished off with a coat of paste wax.





And last, but certainly not least - a curly Rosewood filled SNo.4 smoother. 1-3/4" wide blade, 52.5 degree bed angle.





I have 4 new planes in the works. One uses a crazy material, one is a variation to a plane that I have been dying to make for several years, and two are planes that have been on the list and am finally getting around to making. 2011 is shaping up to be an amazing year.

11 Comments:

Blogger Adrian Baird Ba Than said...

DAMASCUS!!!
I love the damascus,it takes toolmaking into a whole new arena transforming a basic workhorse material into a true showpony!
I've made as well as purchased a couple of small pocket knives made of the stuff,I simply cannot get enough.
I make my own Mokume Gane using silver & copper,occasionaly silver,copper & gold but my Nirvana on earth would be a small forge so that i could pattern weld my own steel.
Beautiful planes,as usual...
More damascus please,maybe a small rebate plane?

14 March 2011 at 01:35  
Blogger Tico Vogt said...

Absolutely outstanding, all of them pleasures to behold (and treasures to own).

14 March 2011 at 09:02  
Blogger raney said...

Man, just when I think the bar's been pushed to the top.

The Damascus is beautiful, Konrad, but the real standouts for me are the last three. That desert ironwood is unbelievable - between the xtra gorgeous inclusion at the top and the strata on the interior, that front bun is a work of art.

And let's face it - phrases such as "curly bridseye boxwood", and "Brazilian rosewood burl" really have no need of explanation.

Can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

14 March 2011 at 09:22  
Anonymous Steve C said...

Ironwood burl, MORE MORE MORE!!!

That's a great start to the year already Konrad, very nicely done as always. Thanks for sharing what you've been working on.

Cheers,
Steve

14 March 2011 at 21:23  
Blogger Konrad said...

Hi Black,

Damascus is a pretty cool material for sure... but is a serious PITA with regards to etching so close to the overstuffing. It took many attempts to get it where I was happy with it.

A small rebate would be pretty cool in damascus... so would a panel plane:) I will see what I can do.

Cheers,
Konrad

15 March 2011 at 08:08  
Blogger Konrad said...

Thanks for your kind comments Tico.

Cheers,
Konrad

15 March 2011 at 08:09  
Blogger Konrad said...

Thanks Raney - but you are pushing that bar quite high yourself. Beautiful work.

The Desert Ironwood was a pretty amazing find. There is another A5 set roughed out from the same piece and I will be curious to see if it produces an equally stunning plane.

Cheers,
Konrad

15 March 2011 at 08:13  
Blogger Konrad said...

Ha - I hear you Steve. More Ironwood burl like that would be pretty awesome. I do have a few other Ironwood sets roughed out for XSNo.4‘s and there is a good sized chunk left over. It is a blistered burl pattern and should make for some amazing planes. I should be getting to them in the next few months.

Cheers,
Konrad

15 March 2011 at 08:16  
Blogger georgewalkerdesign said...

Konrad,
The damascus smoother is a wonderful sight. No accident that you chose an infill material that's a bit calmer and doesn't fight with the figure in the metal. Nice work.

16 March 2011 at 11:34  
Blogger Konrad said...

Thanks George. I cannot imagine any other infill material working with Damascus to be honest. A really straight grained boxwood might work... but the issue of keeping the boxwood clean during the process would be a total nightmare and likely not possible. And while African Blackwood has a really subtle grain pattern to it - I think it would still conflict with the Damascus. Who knows though - I have been prove wrong before.

Cheers,
Konrad

16 March 2011 at 12:05  
Blogger FredW said...

Konrad, you are truly amazing and as Raney said you continue to raise the bar much to the delight of those of us that love this type of work. Fred

5 April 2011 at 22:15  

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Thursday 3 March 2011

Completed A2 jointing plane


Monday was a “gut-bustin” lapping day - but well worth it. It is still amazing to watch the somewhat rough looking sides transform into perfectly polished sidewalls. De-Smurfing is another highlight... seeing the relationship between the wood and metal for the first time. Here are some pics of the finished jointing plane.
















I filed 4 mouths on Tuesday - it was about all I could muster after lapping the plane. The other 3 planes are quite spectacular and I will be posting photos of them in the next few days.

12 Comments:

Blogger Adrian Baird Ba Than said...

Holy crap,that's one incredible shaving!!!

3 March 2011 at 11:51  
Blogger Konrad said...

Wow - that was fast Black!

You should see the floor... it was covered in them:) It is pretty cool when you drop the blade in for the first time and get shavings like that right away. Makes the stomach muscles feel a little better.

Cheers,
Konrad

3 March 2011 at 11:56  
Blogger David Scott said...

Beautiful workmanship. It is a work of art.

3 March 2011 at 12:13  
Blogger Adrian Baird Ba Than said...

You must be able to crush walnuts with those stomach muscles by now,all those planes you've lapped through the years...

3 March 2011 at 12:17  
Blogger Konrad said...

I am not sure about walnuts... but I can still fit into a pair of jeans from college:)

Cheers,
Konrad

3 March 2011 at 12:58  
Blogger Konrad said...

Thanks for your kind comment David.

Cheers,
Konrad

3 March 2011 at 12:59  
Blogger Tico Vogt said...

Spectacular!

3 March 2011 at 13:37  
Blogger Konrad said...

Thanks Tico.

Cheers,
Konrad

3 March 2011 at 15:54  
Blogger David said...

Man ho man.... Love them... The planes of cours...
Stuning!!

4 March 2011 at 20:22  
Blogger Aled said...

Awesome!

7 March 2011 at 16:06  
Blogger Steve Kirincich said...

Hi Konrad,
Beautiful as always! If the jointing plane has your signature tight mouth, will it function more like a smoother? Is a tight mouth wasted on such a big plane?

16 March 2011 at 12:07  
Blogger Konrad said...

Thanks Steve.

The jointer does have a fairly tight mouth - but not like a smoothing plane. I was able to take as heavy a shaving as I could muster - well over .005" thick and it passed through with ease. My own jointing plane has a pretty tight mouth - about .005" but I have never had an issue with it. Taking a .004" or .005" shaving is a monster shaving in anything other than pine. I used my jointer to flatten my latest hard maple benchtop. I set it to take as heavy a cut as I had the strength for and the plane performed perfectly.

Cheers,
Konrad

16 March 2011 at 17:30  

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