What material to use for Record 44C fence?
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Tagged: Plane fences
- This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 5 years ago by Laci Nagy.
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Hi Folks,
I just got hold of a Record 44C plane, but the fence has no wooden lining, so I’ll need to make one to suit. What I’m not sure of is what to look for in a wood that will be used as a fence?
Should it be soft eg pine or hard eg red gum or somewhere in the middle. Is it worth considering, gasp, MDF or ply?
Is it more important that the grain is straight and even or that it’s flat and smooth? I have some reclaimed red gum from some fence posts that planes to a beautifully smooth surface, but the grain is a little gnarly and does have some small pin holes in the planed surface.
Is a wooden fence lining sacrificial and expected to wear (ie soft so it doesn’t damage the work) or should it be something tough but smooth?
All advice greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Laci
5 April 2019 at 7:21 am #555762Just pick any dense close grained hardwood that will wear well and looks nice to you. The fruitwoods tend to be tight grained and dense.(apple, walnut, cherry, pear, plumb, etc.)
Boxwood or persimmon would be especially good.But if you want something that pops, The traditional woods were rosewood and cocobolo , and planes like the Stanley 45 used them for its hardness and natural lubrication which made a low friction and long lasting fence. Many planes still have their original fences and I reclaimed a worn out Stanley fence, replaned it, and put it on a little Record 043.
Unfortunately, the Dalbergia genus is on the Cites endangered list and can’t cross national borders.A second choice would be African Blackwood, the original ebony of the Egyptians. I laid in a stash of these a couple years ago for $6 for a 2”x2”x12 blank for turning rejects. You may get lucky and find these in the scrap bins at lumber merchants. It is also a Dalbergia but small amounts are still imported with certificates, mostly for musical instruments. The reject can often yield enough for things like fences and totes.
I don’t think you will ever wear either out.
- This reply was modified 5 years ago by Larry Geib.
- This reply was modified 5 years ago by Larry Geib.
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