How many hours...good LORD...I have absolutely no idea...
I think if I were to sell it (which ain't gonna happen!)....I would need to sell it in the thousands just to make a minimum wage...
So lots really. I guess Richard probably spent a few hours knocking the dovetails together....with the skills that he had...after the first one I think he admitted it was pretty easy...but that was typical of Richard...a talented craftsman whose modesty was only topped by his wicked humour!
I don't know how many hours but I will say that every single one was great fun...but frightening as some of this was WAY out of my comfort zone...I'm quite lucky to have any hair left the amount of scratching it took! :mrgreen:
Douglas...thanks for today mate...and just to let you into a little secret...the handle is deliberately that shape so you don't feel tempted to "borrow" it too often..... :mrgreen: :wink:
Seriously though...you did me a huge favour today plus you know how to plane properly..unlike me!
So...to the many pictures and a bonus video at the end!!
One of the benefits of using Douglas' workshop is that it looks "proper" as that lady on the Vistaprint advert says...it looks like a real workshop unlike mine which looks like the set of Steptoe and Son!
So
anything looks better on his fine bench amongst fine tools and someone actually working!
But what's the first thing the man does...he scribbles all over it! :shock:
See...I told you he knew a thing or two about this planing lark! 8)
But at least it gave me the opportunity to take an in situ shot of that fine bit of surface grinding which set me back an arm and a leg and more than a few sleepless nights!
So to the first shaving!!! (sound of trembling at this point from the cameraman!)
And so it was discovered that the set was a bit..."coarse"....
Veneer anyone!? :mrgreen:
But like a baby's first hand print...I put that one in the bag to keep...like a proud father! :mrgreen:
So a bit of "fine adjustment" was needed then...
...which also involved hitting the plane....
....a nervous moment! :shock:
But with the consummate skill of a true master...Douglas soon had it spot on and then there was really no stopping him!
Not one piece of fine oak was safe now...
You kind of get addicted to that "whooshing" sound...and all of a sudden find yourself surrounded by shavings...
After a break with some excellent coffee...it was time for some really rather nice London Plane to feel the steel...
The goal was to produce one continuous shaving which seems to be the benchmark of plane testing.....
...which wasn't exactly an arduous task as EVERY shaving was like that...
....as can be seen by the pile around the bench!
But you have to keep producing the shavings to get the "perfect" one...ain't that right Douglas?
(or could it be that he was having fun!? :wink: )
...or was it just an opportunity to show off the rather superb apron...
I WANT ONE OF THESE! (note to wife...Christmas...birthdays...anniversaries...all due soon! 8) )
I did actually get to have a go finally...
...but a combination of the bench not being designed for midgets and the fact that the inertia of the first cut took me with it with the result that I did some serious injury to me crown jewels on that huge boss on the vise which is not meant for lefties either...meant that I decided to wait until I reached home and a sensible height bench!
In all seriousness...it was great fun and a MAJOR relief to me that the plane that Richard inspired and started in such a beautiful way really performed as I had hoped it would. I have to say there were a few happy expletives and I had a huge grin on my face as I left chez Douglas!
Oh yes...the bonus I mentioned....a FLYING shaving...just a snippet from another video I shot...really tickled me...
http://youtu.be/ym1G3-KpBW8
We simply have to have that in slow motion...with some music...
http://youtu.be/n6TrXd6-VfM
(note to self....sack the soundman when he comes back! :mrgreen: )
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Cheers
Jimi (and Douglas!)
