Identified plane problems:
I have observed that cutting a rabbit has a tendency to creep causing the rabbit to narrower with depth. This may be my skill in cutting a rabbit with a hand plane. Also I have noticed that when surface planning, I as well as others skew the plane so as to attack the surface at an angle thus reducing effort and tear out.
Solution: Shown are two hand planes (left and right hand) made of drops of various species.
My first attempt to solve these cutting effects is a pair of planes that have the iron set at a common 45 degree with respect to the sole. In addition the iron is set at 45 degrees with respect to the applied force axis (front/rear centerline). The iron and wedge is compound angled (see photo). The iron’s previous life was a circular saw blade that was cut, ground and heat treated in oil bath and then a final stone edge. The sides are screw mounted so as to fascinate development of design and the fitting of components. Eventually the sides can be glued. A rabbit edge scribe bit and depth stop gauge are retractable for surface planning work. And the edge guide is of course removable.
Testing result:
Making a rabbit in oak works very well and having a left and right plane overcomes change in grain direction. Surface planning has the problem of difficulty in straight line travel due to the angle of attack of the 45 degree set. To correct this problem the left/ right angle should be 10 to 15 degrees rather than 45. This change should allow controllable straight line operation while still allowing the iron to pull the rabbit cut to full width as set by the fence.
I have observed that cutting a rabbit has a tendency to creep causing the rabbit to narrower with depth. This may be my skill in cutting a rabbit with a hand plane. Also I have noticed that when surface planning, I as well as others skew the plane so as to attack the surface at an angle thus reducing effort and tear out.
Solution: Shown are two hand planes (left and right hand) made of drops of various species.
My first attempt to solve these cutting effects is a pair of planes that have the iron set at a common 45 degree with respect to the sole. In addition the iron is set at 45 degrees with respect to the applied force axis (front/rear centerline). The iron and wedge is compound angled (see photo). The iron’s previous life was a circular saw blade that was cut, ground and heat treated in oil bath and then a final stone edge. The sides are screw mounted so as to fascinate development of design and the fitting of components. Eventually the sides can be glued. A rabbit edge scribe bit and depth stop gauge are retractable for surface planning work. And the edge guide is of course removable.
Testing result:
Making a rabbit in oak works very well and having a left and right plane overcomes change in grain direction. Surface planning has the problem of difficulty in straight line travel due to the angle of attack of the 45 degree set. To correct this problem the left/ right angle should be 10 to 15 degrees rather than 45. This change should allow controllable straight line operation while still allowing the iron to pull the rabbit cut to full width as set by the fence.
. Chris Schwarz recently wrote about this problem on his blog. His recommendation is to leave the iron very slightly proud of the body of the plane. Otherwise any error in technique leads to making a new shoulder that the plane rides on. I use this same trick with my shoulder plane.
