violin makers plane

[Luke]

okay i usely come to yall before i purchase a tool ,but this time i decide to step out of the nest ,i purchased a violin makers plane ,i feel this will aid me in my gunbuilding project.was i right or should i now join violin makers .com thanks guys luke

[Jerry V Lape]

Luke, are you talking about one of the minature planes or the larger type called a lateral joint plane?  How do you foresee using the minature plane? Is it flat bottomed or round bottomed? 

I use planes on flintlock stocks but they are a 16" jointer and 8" llow angle block with sole plates wide enough to let the blade span several curls. Planing at about a 45 degree angle to the curl helps prevent wash boarding the stock.  Quite useful in getting off the excess to form the lock and sideplate panels, and to bring the forend down close to finished thickness while maintaining straight lines.  Once I learned just what "really sharp" meant the planes became quite useful.  The jointer is particularly nice in creating parallel and level top edge of the forend while bringing the sides down to expose the right amount of the barrel.  Same thing on the edges for the ramrod groove. 

[Habu]

Naw, purchase the tool then ask for advice on how to use it, like everyone else! 

"Violin maker's plane" can cover a lot of ground, can you post a picture?  Generally speaking, the planes used by violin makers are like a lot of special-purpose tools, they do one thing well.  The key to adapting one to use in gunbuilding is going to be to figure out how the special-purpose tool was used, and what similar operations there are in gunstocking. 

[mike learn]

I have quite the collection of violin planes, flat and round bottom.  Most of them were handmade.  I found them quite useful in the cheek piece transition and the transition between the wrist and comb of stock.

[Kermit]

A good luthier might have quite a collection of planes. They tend to be quite speciallized for particular tasks. Can you share a photo?

As a furniture/cabinetmaker I've fallen for interesting planes that seemed at the time to be useful. I'm afraid most of them spend an awful lot of time in the plane cabinet on the shop wall. Most still have the boxes they came in. Of the iron planes I have, the #4 and #8 get the most use, along with the #60 1/2 low angle block and the #90 bullnose rabbet plane. Another I won't part with is the #40 scrub plane. I'd be fine if all the others disappeared.

[heinz]

I use a violin makers plane from Lie Neilsen on a regular basis, along the toe, the toe molding, the cheekpeice molding and up on the swamped forearm.   

[PPatch]

Speaking of old planes - This fellow at:

http://www.supertool.com/forsale/augtember2012.html

Sells them. I subscribe to his listings and mostly just look, sometimes there is a deal to be found. I am in no way associated with his business.

[Kermit]

PP--that's quite the tool listing. His prices seem fair. I like it that he doesn't seem to be hype-ing the collectibility, but selling tools to be used. I think there's an uber-warm shelf in hades for tool collectors.

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

Luke, if you're talking about one of those little planes with the rounded bottom profile, I almost bought one myself. The only thing that stopped me was the price at the time. I thnik that it'd be perfect for shaping the cheek side and that little hollow where the wrist turns into the butt stock. Good luck with it, Get back how you use it. I still may buy one.

[PPatch]

PP--that's quite the tool listing. His prices seem fair. I like it that he doesn't seem to be hype-ing the collectibility, but selling tools to be used. I think there's an uber-warm shelf in hades for tool collectors.

Kermit;  I have ordered twice from him and a smooth transaction was had both times. Looking for a small router next, most likely a Stanley or a Marble. This latest listing has plane sets from the early 1800's (or was it later...? old brain) still serviceable with a little tweeaking.