Can I make a new blade for tounge and groove plane?
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- This topic has 5 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 3 months ago by James Savage.
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29 December 2014 at 7:43 am #122750
I have been after a tongue and groove plane and really like the look of the Lie-nielson but unfortunately it is outside my budget.
Instead, I have bought a 1/4 inch wooden tongue plane for 99p + postage off Ebay and have since been looking out for a suitable second hand 1/4 groove plane to go with it. Has anyone made new blades for planes? I was just wondering how easy it would be to make a 1/4 groove blade that could be used in the same body as it’s counterpart. Would it be best to start with a blank piece of steel or cut it from something like a No4 blade?
Or should I just keep on looking?
Any thoughts and ideas welcome.Kind regards
30 December 2014 at 11:00 am #122815Oooops! Just found everything I need in the making planes videos, how I missed them before I do not know.
Next stop the opticians!!!Kind regards
James, Glad you located the videos. Paul does a wonderful job explaining how to make blades in these videos. With a little patience I’m sure you can make the shape that you need. I will add this though and I have mentioned it several times in the forums, if you make your blade from flat stock, consider buying air hardening or water hardening tool steel. Most folks recommend using oil hardening steels but it is messy and most people don’t have oil vat that is big enough to dissipate the heat for proper hardening. You can also buy pre-hardened tool steels but you have to be careful when cutting the shape not to over heat it as this takes the temper out of the steel and you will not get good service out of it. You could also take your finished blade to a local machine shop to have it hardened but that adds cost to your project. Post some pictures when you get it completed… Good luck
1 January 2015 at 6:34 pm #122927Thanks Sandy, I appreciate your reply.
My father in law has given me a piece of steel he had knocking about in his shed which seems quite hard, it doesn’t file or cut with a hacksaw very easily. I don’t know if it is suitable for tool use yet but I’ll have a go. I’ll take care not to overheat when cutting. If it doesn’t work I shall try the steels you mentioned, are the air and water hardening tool steels called anything in particular? Just so I can find them easily when I come to buy some.Kind regards
Air Hardening tools steel is sometimes referred to as A2 or Ax and Water hardening would be Wx Most machine shops keep these steels in stock. Google it and you can find a lot of info and hardening techniques. I prefer the water hardening steels just for convenience. Unlike oil baths you can just poor the water out when you are finished. No disposal or storage problems.
I’d give the piece you already have a shot and see how it holds up.
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