Plane ?

[ptk1126]

While at Friendship last weekend (just before the unexpected hurricane winds hit southern Indiana and we lost power for three days),
I watched a builder using a plane to shape the forestock on a Lehigh rifle. I think he was using a 6" Lie-Nielsen plane. Any recommendations for a
small plane ? He made it look a lot easier than using rasps.

Thanks
Paul

[John Longwitz]

Sounds like what is referred to as a "block plane".  The Lie-Nielson are very pricey but highly regarded.  For the budget minded Stanley still makes a good one.  They typically come in low or high angle which refers to the angle of the blade.  The high angle are more aggressive and work well with the grain.  For cross grain or irregular grain the low angle is usually preferred.  As with all cutting tools blade sharpness pays off and a means of honing it is essential.  I got my Stanley high angle at Lowe's.  I picked up a Millers Falls low angle on eBay for a reasonable price.  Both work well.  They both have adjustable throat opening which is not found on the lower end models which are mostly suitable for softwoods.

[rich pierce]

I use a low angle adjustable Sears plane I got in the 70's for flat work, and spokeshaves for most other work.  Now I have a concave spokeshave that really helps get things symmetrical on the forestock, comb, etc.

[Dan'l 1946]

  I got one of the 5 1/4" bronze block planes from my wife on my birthday. The blade lies at a 12 degree angle and it's a pleasure to use. Even on end grain it cuts without chatter or chipping. Fits in my pocket when I'm not using it, too!

[northmn]

Planes are one of the handiest wood removers made.  I have used a large one for squaring the wood for inletting and then progressively go down for shaping.  I have an old router plane I need to get blades for.  I know old time cabinet makers and I assume gunsmiths had a very large variety of planes.  On very curly maple they do chatter so one has to be careful and know when to start rasping.  The newer Surform planes, shapers and so forth are also economically priced tools.  The round one is very handy.

DP

[ehoff]

My Stanley low angle block plane is one of my most used tools, not just for gun building, but other woodworking projects as well.

[Ohioan]

my father has about 150 planes of various types.  Most of them are antique, and the blades are worthless for stock removal. But a few of them we have sharpened.

I love using planes, as long as the blades are SHARP, and the depth is set right

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

A small low angle block plane with a sharp blade makes shaping the forestock a joy! Also for side panels etc.

[Roy S.]

I have been using a scraper I made here lately... hardly pick up a plane any more.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Hey Roy, lets see more of that scraper and less of the shavings. I like what I can see but I would like to see more different angles of your scraper. What are you using for the scraper blade? Are their any adjustments to "bow" the scraper blade? Inquiring minds want to know ???

[Roy S.]

using a piece of .024 spring steel...



bottom of the scraper ( When I make the newer model the blade will be more in center, just didn't have thick enough brass...)




copied from an original that a freind lent me



Adjustments are just up and down, I barely have any of the blade showing at all... it takes about equal amount pressure down as it does to pull.  Even been using when making my ramrods.  Just takes a nice thin cut with no tear outs even on curly maple. 

I am going to make a few more, this first one I realized all the things I wanted to change LOL.

[shifty]

in response to PW= Dean Torges at THE BOWYERS EDGE sells these scrapers if you didn't want to make one yourself. Used one for years now they work good.

[Elnathan]

Roy,
At what angle isyour blade bedded and sharpened? Mine is bedded at 90 degrees and sharpened at 10, but it seems to need a fair bit sticking out before it will work properly, and tends to choke quite a bit (the mouth is about the same width as the piece of dovetail-saw blade that I made the scraper out of).

[Stophel]

I have an old Millers Falls block plane that was my grandfather's.  I use it for the fore end, the butt, the lock panels, the....

[Jim Filipski]

One of my favorite planes ( it is a mini) is this antique Stanley #98 Rabbit with removable fence which lets it act near a bull nose .... great for top of ram rod grooves and top of barrel channels. It is about 4 " long.
I also have a old stanley "finishing " block plane with an angle of about 30 deg. with adjustable throat. This is what I use on the sides of the stock to get them close to finish thickness. (It runs slow especially when I'm being anal! can't make too bad of a mistake unless it is super figured maple!)
Jim

[Jim Horn]

Jim,    That Plane is a Stanley #98 side rabbit plane - left, the #99 is the right hand version.   Wish I had a pair.  Been, thinking about getting those planes but, alas, they aint cheap, new or old!!!
Jim

[Roy S.]

Roy,
At what angle isyour blade bedded and sharpened? Mine is bedded at 90 degrees and sharpened at 10, but it seems to need a fair bit sticking out before it will work properly, and tends to choke quite a bit (the mouth is about the same width as the piece of dovetail-saw blade that I made the scraper out of).

I'll go and doublecheck LOL and come back to report 

[Jim Filipski]

Jim,    That Plane is a Stanley #98 side rabbit plane - left, the #99 is the right hand version.   Wish I had a pair.  Been, thinking about getting those planes but, alas, they aint cheap, new or old!!!
Jim

Jim thanks for the info. I can't really make out the first number well So it is a 98...... Ah have to update the photo captions.
I don't know much about these. I had this one for about 25 years & can't remember where it came from but most likely showed up with some old tools I bought in bulk. I use it with a good skew across the wood so I guess the fact that it is a right hand version doesn't matter too much to me. All I know is it is one handy tool for stock work.
Thanks again
Jim