Making planing blades

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Haynie

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A few months ago I was looking at a wooden plane and thought that would look hot surrounded by brass and or stainless steel. I thought I was on to something new. Goes to show you how limited my world is. Then I found planes by Holtey and others who sell their infill planes for "HOLY POOP!!!" prices.

I still want to make one but I want to go all out and make the blade too.

I know there are some knife makers out there who have made their blades and gone through the process. How hard is the blade making process and what tools are seriously necessary?
 
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I saw an article about a month ago in one of the wood working magazines on just this topic. Actually, i think in the past year i have seen two or more articles on making your own plane.

Update: found the article: its in ShopNotes Vol. 21 Issue 121, page 18
 
Making the planes have been a long time tradition and at one time was part of the pattern makers and fine woodworkers apprenticeship. Making the blades is a completely different story.

I thing that you will find cutting the blade shape/form out isn't the problem, The problem you will have is the hardening and tempering the blade so it will work properly and hold an edge to get some useful work done.
Here are two book sites that will be of help for your quest

They have a great selection of books on planes and antique and modern tools, knife making and smithing.
:clown:
 
Lots of reading on the net about hardening and tempering metal. This should be interesting.

Thanks for the site and input.
 
I made this one but I didn't even THINK about making a blade, GOOD LUCK!:biggrin:
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The sides are brass and the sole is steel. The woods are walnut and purpleheart. All the dovetails are cut by hand using a hacksaw and ALOT of filing.:biggrin:

I made the brass adjustment screw on my metal lathe.
 

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I bow to you oh great one. That is beautiful. Where did you get the blade?

I have been reading a lot and found some plans for making forges. This could get fun. My wife hates when I get this way. I was informed that at least hydroponics fascination produced something we could eat. :)))))
 
see if you can find a used copy of the art of blacksmithing (i think the authors name was alex bealer)... i read it about a year ago, and i seem to recall it had a fairly decent section on tempering tool steel as well as a lot of other information... as a fair warning there are some sections that are tediously bogged down with details about making certain items, so its certainly not a cover to cover read, but the first half to two thirds is full of good general knowledge while the latter part is much more application specific.

it certainly made me want to start ANOTHER new hobby ;)

--Dave
 
I bow to you oh great one. That is beautiful. Where did you get the blade?

I have been reading a lot and found some plans for making forges. This could get fun. My wife hates when I get this way. I was informed that at least hydroponics fascination produced something we could eat. :)))))


Thanks, I got the blade here... Clifton 410 Rabbet Plane Iron | Hand Plane Blades

The plans are in "Shop Notes", issue#88.
 
I bow to you oh great one. That is beautiful. Where did you get the blade?

I have been reading a lot and found some plans for making forges. This could get fun. My wife hates when I get this way. I was informed that at least hydroponics fascination produced something we could eat. :)))))


If you're going to be building a forge.....look no further for a burner than right here: Hybridburners.com home page

I got the T-Rex and it is awsome!


Barney
 
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