Making a moulding plane

Dec 04, 2003 4 Replies
F

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:



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'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


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S

Here's how I do it:

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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:

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way to learn is to take a class. Tod Herrli offers classes at his house in Indiana. Larry Williams of Clark & Williams
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occasionally teaches classes too. He taught one at Arrowmont in Tennessee in '02.

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L

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.

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F

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

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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) ;)

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S

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.

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