Customer Reviews

Making & Modifying Woodworking Tools

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For anybody interested in making metal handplanes, this book gives complete directions. Including, history, technique, materials, etc. Beautiful color photos of the authors handiwork too.

This book would probably be useful for someone who has little or no metal working experience. The author covers the basic tools necessary to build and modify your own tools. One chapter very briefly covers basic skills such as layout, using a hacksaw, a file, drilling holes, threading with tap and die, soldering, and riveting. The chapter on heat treatment was very short but again, might be good information for a beginner. There is a chapter on plane technology that discusses what each of the parts does and how they work together as a unit. There are several chapters each discussing a particular type of plane that you could build as well as a chapter on tuning a Bailey style plane. Overall, I was disappointed in the lack of detail in most of the plane-making chapters. I was expecting more explanation of specific techniques, for instance, the Norris style coffin smoother has sides that must be bent to shape using a wooden a form. There is no explanation for how you might go about bending the metal around this form or any discussion on spring-back which will certainly occur with bends this slight. I think that most of the information in this book could be easily found through online searches. Although, at the time of its writing this may not have been the case.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you are interested in making Krenov style wooden planes I would highly recommend "Making and Mastering Wood Planes" by David Finck. Finck also has supporting videos on youtube. If you have an interest in molding planes then you will want to find Tod Herrli's excellent video on making hollows and rounds. Both of these give step by step detailed instruction leaving no guesswork.

I have a confession...

I am a plane addict. Since I started on the slippery slope with a cheap Grizzly block plane, I've found myself aquiring and lusting for all manner of hand planes including a 200 year old Marples woodie, a mujifeng smoother, and some model maker planes.

For a while, I seriously lusted after infill planes (still do).

This book is the only one of it's type on making infill planes (that I'm aware of). However, there is much information on the internet on how to make them now. There are far more practical sources of information on hand plane making including Bill Carter's webpage, Sawmill Creek, and Ron Brese (who has an excellent plane kit).

Personally, I'd recommend skipping this book, and just getting a kit.

I have been looking for a book about making woodworking tools for a long time. I am delighted to find this one. The content is great and well put together. The author makes it look easy enough that even I can make some of the tools.