Last plane of 2015 - and a few others
The last post was about using texture to help file the mouth on a K18 - here are some photos of that finished plane. This was the last plane of 2015 and is a sibling for an earlier K9 and K13. It was the perfect way to end my year. All three planes came from the same piece of unidentified Rosewood.
The next plane is a Desert Ironwood filled K7. I have done a 180 with regards to sapwood - at least with Desert Ironwood. I am a little surprised actually - I can recall making a fair amount of noise about not liking sapwood on planes... but there is something about the coloration, texture and grain of Desert Ironwood that turned me around. I guess this dog is still learning a few things.
A Honduran Rosewood filled K13. This set is a match to my own K18. It is always interesting to be able to work with specific pieces of wood again. There were several points where things felt very familiar - when I was shaping the handle and the front pad on this plane. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken a photo of it next to my K18.
And last, but certainly not least, is another Desert Ironwood filled plane. This one is a No.4 smoother with a 2" wide blade and bronze sides.
Maybe part of the attraction of working with Desert Ironwood is the randomness of it - and the many happy surprises that happen along the way. When I roughed out the infill set for this No.4, I had no idea how the sapwood and heartwood would interact together, but when I sliced off the front of the bun on the bandsaw and saw the little island of heartwood... I was elated. I was so careful about not removing too much material so the island would be lost.
Happy New Year everyone, and thanks to you all for the continued support.
posted by Konrad at
23:29
19 Comments
19 Comments:
Wow. Are either the K7 or the No4 available? Thanks for your time and all you do.
Adam
Hi Adam,
Sorry, all of these planes were commissions, and are at their respective homes.
cheers,
konrad
This is a compliment under the guise of advice: you should stop making planes on commission and instead just make the ones you want, putting each of them up for auction as they are finished. You might see some vigorous bidding. I say that because I had the same thought as Adam: Can I buy one of those? I'd wager, you could have had the two of us offering bid after bid.
I am a fan of sap wood myself. I installed a walnut floor in my kitchen using it. There are some amazing patterns created. It looks as though you planed the locations on the planes. You do some amazing work. I wish you the best in 2016 and beyond. A friend from Wisconsin. John
Hi Konrad,
Have you ever made a hand plane where the toe and heel are one type of wood and the tote a contrasting wood?
Steve
Hmmm... an interesting suggestion John. I have started making a few spare planes now and again over the years and it has always worked out well. Let me think on it.
cheers,
konrad
Hello John in Wisconsin. I do a fair amount of planning when I am roughing out infill sets, and things often go according to plan - but with figured desert Ironwood - you never really know what you are going to get. I have had a few happy accidents and a few disasters. Thankfully - all the disasters happened when I was roughing the sets out and not after the infills have been installed and cross pinned! That will be a very dark day when that happens!
All the best to you as well in 2016.
konrad
Hi Steve,
I have not made a plane with different species of wood before. I have seen many examples of this, but they are rarely to my taste. I have learned enough to know never say never... but this one would be a much bigger stretch than learning to love sapwood... I think :)
cheers,
konrad
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
Thanks David - Happy New Year!
Konrad:
Spectacular, as usual - the lines always looks so - - flawless.
I too am a sucker for sapwood - you have captured it very nicely indeed.
Happy and prosperous 2016!
Dave B
Thanks Dave, and Happy New Year to you as well.
cheers,
konrad
Konrad:
The knife maker Bob Kramer sells all his custom studio knives through an auction platform - not the ones he has designed for companies that are mass produced - but those that he himself makes. Could be a model for your thinking about the auction method.
Best,
Robert
Thanks Robert. I do not know Bob Kramer, but have admired his work for a very long time. I did not realize that is how he was selling his custom work.
Cheers,
konrad
These planes, the display of craftsmanship,the design,the materials as a complete expression bring joy to my life. God bless you Konrad Sauer.
thanks Jameel, for your very kind words.
WOW !! That is a stunning group of planes Konrad. Your wood pile never ceases to amaze.
Have a great new year.
Thanks Chris - have a great new year as well.
cheers,
konrad
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