Thinking out loud - a new project

[Aled Dafis]

I've been trying to teach myself to use the (awfull) 3D CAD programme that we have in school, so decided to have a go at designing a new plane for me to have a go at making when things quieten down a little after the easter hols.

It's still a WIP, but I'd say that I'm about 90% of the way there, I just need to draw the cap iron and screw. What do you think?

Sides to be in brass, sole in steel, and the iron home brewed from O1 steel.

Cheers

Aled

 

[jimi43]

I love that design Aled...one of my old favourites!

I look forward to seeing WIP...you never know...I might be following along with you by then!

Jim

 

[Richard T]

What's that angle Aled? Looks steep - 60 degrees?

 

[Chems]

I used to use that program in school, what was it called? Its bugging me!

Very pretty plane design.

 

[Aled Dafis]

Thanks guys.

The pitch is 55deg at the moment. I found that at 50deg there's only a slight advantage in performance over 45deg, so I decided this time to go for 55. I'll then have a small smoother at 60, a large smoother at 50 (honed with a 10deg back bevel) and this panel plane at 55deg.

Chems, the program is ProDesktop, and is a proper mare to use! I've just installed a copy of SolidWorks on my machine to see what it's like, we have a site licence at school, but it's yet to be installed/tested, I really hope it's as good as Autodesk Inventor.

Cheers

Aled

 

[mtt.tr]

I remember prodesktop i gpt quite good with it

 

[AndyT]

Something to think about at this stage is how far along the body the blade is going to be. I freely confess to not having enough experience to say what would be best for your design, but it reminded me of something like this fine Spiers:

That's 17 1/2 " and is on sale at Jim Bode. Your blade looks a bit further forward than that.

 

[Harbo]

Have a look at Jim Kingshott's book " Making & Modifying Woodworking Tools " - there's scaled plans of a number of planes including a 14.5" Norris together with lots of other construction details. Also some photos of big 'uns too!
The Norris A1's are lovely planes, with a nice solid feel?

Rod

 

[matthewwh]

Hi Aled,

Your tote is too tall, too straight, too vertical and has too much up top. I know this probably has more to do with the limitations of the software than your eye for detail, but I'd rather mention it before you start making sawdust than regret it afterwards.

60 is steep even for an infill, especially a panel plane as it will be a right dog to push. I would have thought 50 should be plenty, given the options to back bevel the iron or skew the plane to raise or lower the angle as necessary.

Very statuesque front bun though!

 

[woodbloke]

Something to think about at this stage is how far along the body the blade is going to be. I freely confess to not having enough experience to say what would be best for your design, but it reminded me of something like this fine Spiers:

That's 17 1/2 " and is on sale at Jim Bode. Your blade looks a bit further forward than that.

I used to use one like that except mine is a Norris...nice plane - Rob

 

[Richard T]

Matthew - I think this software, being so angular and all, has demonstrated how the handle blank might look when first cut out. Looks to me like that Spiers handle could be found, Michaelangelo - like, within.

Andy it's a good point about where to put the mouth. I agonised a bit over mine. In the end I just looked at a lot of old ones and put it where they did. (ish) It really is on page one when designing a dove tailed plane as the mouth has to be within a section of sole in between side dovetails. If you run a straight line down Aled's iron, it comes through the third from the front dead centre. To move the mouth back would mean all the way back to the centre of the next one. I think this is probably why the Spiers has the sole extended at the front - extra length without having to worry about an odd joint, or half joint.

 

[jimi43]

I think the Sauer and Steiner jointer would be the design I would go for...

Now that IS a behemoth!

Or maybe the boxwood one...you know me and boxwood!

Note the height of the bun on that one Matt! I'm with you on the low profile bun by the way but it is by no means a design that is written in stone.


Jim

 

[woodbloke]

I think the Sauer and Steiner jointer would be the design I would go for...

Jim

Waka has one almost identical (apart from one or five others :-" ) to the one in the backround wot I've used...very nice 8) - Rob

 

[Aled Dafis]

Thanks for the comments guys. I totally agree that the rear tote is completely unrefined, and will be shaped more like this one, which fits beautifully in my hand.

I may still alter the pitch, no metal has been harmed as yet so the design is open to change. I'm now thinking of maybe 52.2 degrees, as a compromise between 50 and 55. I had the same dilema with the smoother and sometimes regret that I opted for the lower pitch.

As regards the mouth position, I set it to 1/3 of the sole length which is pretty much the standard (ballpark) position for most planes. I measured my Clifton 5 1/2 and my Veritas LAJ (I know, I don't really need a panel plane, but what the hell) and came to 120mm for a plane 360mm long. You're quite right Richard that the mouth does need to come in between the dovetails, but I positioned the tails to coincide with the mouth position as opposed to the other way round.

Rod, thanks for reminding me about the Kingshot book, I have it, but had completely forgotten that it had drawings for a panel plane in it so didn't look through it this time. In fact I didn't do much research at all, my main aim was to learn to use the CAD package, the plane was something of a secondary thought.

Pictures of Konrad's planes are always welcome, he's the reason I started making infills and his work blows me away every time i see it.

Keep the comments flowing guys.

Cheers

Aled

 

[ali27]

Hi Aled Dafis,

I know de gustibus non est disputandum, but personally I find that plane design
to be incredibly ugly.

The front reminds of a woman shoe and the handle reminds of a
saw. The combination makes it hideous for me.

Jimi, that boxwood jointer is completely gorgeous if it weren't for
that saw handle.

Ali

 

[Alf]

Rod, thanks for reminding me about the Kingshot book, I have it, but had completely forgotten that it had drawings for a panel plane in it so didn't look through it this time.

You might find the relevant stuff at the Jim Kingshott Shrine worth a look too, Aled.

 

[Aled Dafis]

Thanks for the link Alf, I've not come across that one before.

Yes that Kingshot book does take a little interpretation to get all the details from it. I remember reading it for the first time and getting very confused indeed! The mist does seem to clear on the fifth, sixth... readings though.

Cheers
Aled

 

[Chems]

Chems, the program is ProDesktop, and is a proper mare to use!

*Ligthbulb*

Thanks for telling me. I remember I used to spend hours on it, they I went over to 3D Studio max and never touched it again. It did have an excellent to schematic function thou.

 

[Aled Dafis]

I've had a bit of a play with SolidWorks tonight and following a few frustrations, came up with this.

Cheers
Aled

 

[jimi43]

Oh wow! Nice one Aled!

Looks the dogs nether bits to me!

The cap screw needs to be a tad bigger and the front bun layer transitions could do with being more "smooth" but other than that...it's a winner!

Can't wait for the actual WIP!

Jim