He's cute.

[MIGNAL]

Thumb or violin makers plane I recently made from brass offcuts . . or perhaps a rather large 1 pence piece.

 

[Alf]

Cute indeed. But we need more details!

 

[Waka]

Very impressive but as Alf says, more details please.

 

[Philly]

Awwww..that IS cute! I love the wedge/handle!
Philly

 

[MIGNAL]

Ooops sorry about the lack of info. These are used in the carving of violin, cello, archtop guitar tops/backs and are used just after a roughing gouge has done it's work but prior to the use of scrapers. Somewhere between a scrub and a smoothing plane - sort of. This one is violin sized with a curved sole and has a homemade toothed blade for use on figured maple.
This is what I call the 'squashed tube' method of construction. The body is made of some thick walled brass tube I found in a plumbers merchant, cut off less than 1 inch off the end, heated it with the propane torch and then ceremoniously hit it with a hammer to form the slightly elongated section. Sole obtained from a large old door hinge and is brazed on or rather soldered on. The wedge also forms a 'palm grip' and makes it more comfortable in use.
Not difficult to make, in fact much easier than a wooden smoother.

 

[Philly]

Mignal
So now we need to see your violins :wink:
Cheers
Philly

 

[Paul Chapman]

Very nice, MIGNAL. Yes, let's see the violins.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Alf]

This is what I call the 'squashed tube' method of construction.

Ahhhh... Clever.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Waka]

Yeh violins please

 

[woodbloke]

Ingenious, can we see some :-({|= please - Rob

 

[MIGNAL]

Sorry folks - the violin is months away. Just getting prepared hence the need to make some of the specialist tools. I've another 2 or 3 of these little planes to complete. Perhaps some pics of a guitar and a lute in a couple of weeks time, even they they are toffee apple sticky at the moment.