Making a moulding plane

Dec 04, 2003 4 Replies

Rate this thread:

Saved reading

Frank Shute 22 years ago

I've got to make some replacement window frames for my house and I'd like to make them in the style of the originals (1930's). Picture at:

formatting link

've got a moulding on them which is somewhat akin to an extended Roman ogee. I can get a similar ½" router bit but aswell as the cost of the bit, I'd have to get a ½" router which rules out that idea.

I thought of doing a number of passes with my ¼" router and a variety of bits but that would be a pain even if I could figure out what bits etc. to use.

Since I'm using Scandinavian pine for the frames, my next idea was to make a moulding plane with the desired profile. Anybody tackled making a moulding plane to do such a job? Any web resources/books about how to tackle it or any other hints? I'd be happy to spend some dough on a book as it would be useful if I came up against any other one-off profiles in the future.

TIA

Vote

Information here may be outdated?

Scott Post 22 years ago

Here's how I do it:

formatting link

far as books go, "Making Traditional Wooden Planes" by John Whelan is the best on making molding planes. There's also a video out by Tod Herrli on making a side escapement plane (hollows & rounds) that you can get here:

formatting link

way to learn is to take a class. Tod Herrli offers classes at his house in Indiana. Larry Williams of Clark & Williams

formatting link

occasionally teaches classes too. He taught one at Arrowmont in Tennessee in '02.

Vote

Larry C in Auburn, WA 22 years ago

Scott, you Bast*rd! I had stuff to do this morning so I didn't have time to spend an hour reading your web site. You owe me!!!

Actually, very nice tutorial on making a plane. It made me want to go make one. Maybe between Christmas & New Years when I'm off work. Hmm, I might have to order some supplies this afternoon.

Vote

Frank Shute 22 years ago

might be out of print. I might get hold of the video though.

I also checked out your site and your write-up is brilliant and it gives me the confidence to give it a go. I first have to get another job out of the way, so I probably wont start building it until after Xmas but I'll put some pictures up once I'm done.

A couple of questions: what timber do you use? I guess any reasonably durable close-grained hardwood would do the job but perhaps the plane-makers of yore had a preference. You finished with boiled linseed, do you think Danish oil is OK?

I've found a supplier of tool steel just a few miles down the road

formatting link

and thought I might go for A2 for the iron. Their site is quite interesting and includes colour charts for tempering etc.

Too far to go, unless you fancy sending me a transatlantic plane ticket (gratis) ;)

Vote

Scott Post 22 years ago

Yes - any close grained hardwood is fine. Beech and birch are both traditional. Hard maple works fine too. I've seen a few from apple and cherry. Some of the woods from the rosewood family like cocobolo are really nice.

I don't see why not. It's just oil with a bit of varnish.

I missed the ".uk" the first time around.

Vote