Who says Veritas Planes look Utilitarian?

[bugbear]

Clearly the stuff in that pic is fairly up-market joinery work. If you're refereing to the handrails that curve in both planes, I don't know how they're made, but I suspect a spindle moulder might be involved somewhere. A compass plane can only be used effectively if the curve is uniform, ie a set radius. On a piece of furniture where the curve has a compound radius (two or more different ones) then you can't (as far as I'm aware) use a compass plane - Rob

Anyone read Ellis or Mowatt on the subject? I've heard of them, but not read.

BugBear

 

[marcus]

Anyone read Ellis or Mowatt on the subject? I've heard of them, but not read.

Ellis has pages of stuff on both the theory and practical side of handrails. It's very complex! I couldn't begin to describe what he says about geometry, templates and marking out etc. - there is so much there and I would have to sit down for several hours to figure it out (if I could figure it out from a book at all).

Compared to that, the practical making would be fairly straightforward I should think, using planes, spokeshaves, bandsaw, custom profiled scrapers, and sandpaper as appropriate.....

Cheers

Marcus

 

[woodbloke]

I think Laura is refering to the work of Victor Horta a Belgian (I think) exponent of "Art Nouveau" I thought this was called paling stijl in the low countries our what we sometimes call eel style.

Regards Tom

Indeed the main figure in this style is the Belgium architect and designer Victor Horta. The main shape is reffered to as zweepslag. The style itself as Horta as in Chipendale etceteral are named after the designer considred as most influential. Never heard it refered to as paling (altough I can understand the shape can be tough as of that of a swimming eal (eal = paling))

But back to the initial question. How would one use a router and template of any kind instead of an adjustable compass plane, a spokeshave and some card scrapers?

(I know its not perfect, just a quick sketchup)

Making this sort of stuff is a bit of a 'mare I reckon, but to do the sides (assuming that the timber had been jointed correctly and cut roughly to profile) I'd make some wooden planes with convex soles of different radii for the hollows and plane off the material across the grain, then use scrapers and sandpaper to profile. Normal planes used across the grain would be able to shape the convex part of the outside. As I said earlier, you can't use a compass plane in a situation like this as the curve on the side of the cabinet is compound. However you do it, it ain't easy - Rob

 

[Smudger]

So, apart from circular table tops and the like, and cartwheels, what would you use a compass plane for nowadays?

 

[Chris Knight]

So, apart from circular table tops and the like, and cartwheels, what would you use a compass plane for nowadays?

Anything that is curved basically..

 

[Smudger]

I think my point would be that traditionally this would be a plane bought either by a specialist (such as a wheelwright) or by a workshop, to be used by any craftsman when needed, rather like the very expensive combination planes. The individual craftsman wouldn't have bought one for his toolbox, as they are expensive, not often used, and represent a poor return on the investment. Useful to have around when needed, though.

Us amateurs are rather like those individual craftsmen (or in my case, chimpanzees). We probably wouldn't buy that many, and so the project has a difficult investment model.

That new beader looks different - I think people may buy those in order to do something that in the past they either didn't do or found difficult. Not something you would use every day, but fairly often. I use mine fairly often.

Just a thought. Am I wrong?

 

[TrimTheKing]

I think you are right there, but there's the other factor nowadays, those of us who like shiny things and will buy one whether it gets used every day or once a year. :wink:

Agree with the beading tool comment. The first thing I thought when I saw that was 'ah, now I can do things I wouldn't have considered before'. Definitely one that would expand my abilities without having to think too hard about how I would set up the router etc to do it.

Cheers

Mark

 

[tnimble]

Making this sort of stuff is a bit of a 'mare I reckon

Yes it can

As I said earlier, you can't use a compass plane in a situation like this as the curve on the side of the cabinet is compound.

Yes you can no they aren't. They are only a set of different radia curves after each other all in one plane, and some parts with a curved section cut out in the other direction. And often not made from one solid piece but multiple pieces glued together (for instance a middle section and edge pieces and a piece for the middle top and some pieces for the top corners. Most parts can be planed perfectly with a compass plane (stopping half way, and when getting close resetting the pane and do the other half). Using some skope shaves to do some round overs.

Also with the front and the doors, the longer curves can first be done with a compass plane, the small curves and edges with a spoke shave. They some scratch stocks and carving chissels to add some details (not shown in the quick sketch) like some flutes to have the top look ike as it supported by some kind of stem.

However you do it, it ain't easy

To create, it is easy, once shown how, but a lot of hand work, to design that's harder.

 

[bugbear]

Anything that is curved basically..

Nice workholding solution!

BugBear