Reply To: Making a round moulding plane
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Bill, Did you find what you need for your plane making? I took a class with Tod Herrli and have his video and can say that everything you need is in that video including making the iron from O1 steel. If you are patient and careful, you’ll be fine. If I remember right, Tod turns a dowel to use instead of a mother plane to shape the hollow and then uses that hollow to be the mother of the round. I don’t see that it must be done this way, if you don’t have access to a way to turn the dowel. I think you could patiently form the round first or fashion a scraper to use as a way to get the round, then use the round plane, when done, to cut the hollow.
You basically shape your plane blank and then cut an angled mortise for the blade and wedge. Tod uses a brace and bit to establish the angle, then opens the bore into the full mortise by chopping with a mortise chisel. It is at this point that you will need a couple specialized tools. First is an 1/8″ mortise chisel to handle the mouth. You’ll find it useful for other work. The other is a pair of planemaker floats. Tod shows how to make these from some O1 steel and a saw file. It’s not hard and you do not need to harden the floats. Or, you could buy them. You can find the O1 steel via MSC Direct in the US.
Tod hardens his steel with a pair of torches, one using MAPP gas. Paul showed how to use a charcoal barbecue, which I’ve never tried but I must say is the way I’d go. It costs nothing and is much slower, giving you more control over the process.
It has been several years since I last did this, so I hope I’m remembering correctly. Tod’s information and classes are excellent.