First homemade handplane

[vandenboom]

Here is my first attempt at a homemade handplane. A Tryplane - 17" long, blade 2" wide & 6mm thick.
Thanks to Rocket for spotted gum offcut that I used for the bulk of it - with pieces of scented maple (very hard) and ironwood for wedge. Works like a charm.
Thanks also to Craig Clancy for your advice.
I have been wanting to have a crack at this for some time, but with no room for a jointer in my new abode in remote NT, it had to be done now!!. Want to add a smoothing plane and Jack plane to the collection in the next few days.
Frank

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[Dominic]

Very cool Frank. Where did you get the blade/s for this and your next few projects? Looks very solid. Can you get a wider one for a smoother. Also, I wonder if you could add weights to the body of a smoother to give it more momentum? I have been meaning to buy one but your work here makes me think I should have a go at making one first.
Cheers
Dom

[vandenboom]

Thanks Dom. I got the blades from Paul at Academy Saws. Contact details are on the following page, though it is not his web site. He was fantastic to deal with. Spoke to him 4:30 Wed afternoon - gave him an order over the phone - he didn't want payment over the phone - said he would include invoice with the blades (doesn't happen often these days). Came home Thu and the blades were sitting at the door step. I got a couple of 3mm thick, 30mm wide blades as well.
www.hntgordon.com.au/paulwilliams.htm
To add weight for the smoother, I would just use heavier wood and not take as much off the body.
It took me about 5-6 hours in total for the first, using the Finck book. The next one won't take that long. Not difficult provided you get some of the fairly crucial steps right.
All the best. Frank.

[jeffhigh]

Can't argue with those shavings, but what angle have you got on the blade?

[vandenboom]

Can't argue with those shavings, but what angle have you got on the blade?

60 degs. Finck book suggests 45, but I decided to follow the specs on the www.hntgordon.com.au site.
Frank

[jeffhigh]

Yeh good for aussie timbers
The pictures just made it look steeper to me
So you'll be able to turn the blade around to use it as a scraper too?

[vandenboom]

So you'll be able to turn the blade around to use it as a scraper too?

Yep... haven't used a plane as a scraper before.

[rocket]

That's bloody beautiful Frank you should be very proud of that, that blade looks like a pearler, plenty of meat on it , should last you a while.
Cheers,, Rod

[Kim Strode]

That's a great plane Frank, I purchased a secondhand Japanese Plane like this from an antique shop, but I'm sure it's not as true as yours. A plane like this will serve you well.

[sebastiaan56]

Looks great Frank, well done! Its a bit like building an instrument, its a thrill when it works well and there are years of satisfaction using it.

[vandenboom]

Looks great Frank, well done! Its a bit like building an instrument, its a thrill when it works well and there are years of satisfaction using it.

Hey Sebastiaan, I think you were the one who put me onto Helmut. I put my order in for a couple of blades with Helmut 18 months ago, inquiring every now and then. I understand he does these bulk orders voluntarily and delivers excellent stuff so you have to be patient. But when my need became more urgent recently and I purchased 4 blades from Academy Saws, I sent an email to Helmut asking if it was too late to pull out of his order. Apparently he ordered the steel the day before, so it was only fair to stay in the bulk buy. So from famine to feast in the plane blade department!!
Frank

[Clancy]

Lovely Plane you got there mate.
Really top work.
Glad it's all working out as planned (or should I say "as planed" )