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What's On Your Workbench?

#5,701
Creeping along…
E64ACFEE-F428-4099-A3EE-924319A34339.jpeg

After filing the heck out of the plane iron I was able to get a nice flat area behind the nasty divot the pitting left near the edge. Not wanting to make the blade any thinner than I already had, I then ground the blade back past the divot on a grinding wheel.
088DAF55-0142-4E3D-BFBE-69186EC9E22D.jpeg

…and then cleaned up the bevel on the coarse water stone.
8695E361-638F-47F6-88FC-3914744F7F16.jpeg

Now I can proceed with normal honing and see if this iron was actually worth saving in the first place.
 
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#5,704
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#5,705
Bruce Johnson said:
That's actually a good reference picture, for when we're trying to describe how to drill wire holes to a beginner. The geometry can be hard to describe in words.
Click to expand...
I take my time. I ponder a long time for things like this…it’s not perfect but it will work.
I’m far from being a proper luthier. I just have fun!
 
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#5,706
StereoPlayer said:
I take my time. I ponder a long time for things like this…it’s not perfect but it will work.
I’m far from being a proper luthier. I just have fun!
Click to expand...

Your technique is about what all the pros do. My late buddy Mike Lipe built about 3000 guitars in his life, and I think every one had the holes drilled just like that. A long drill bit, aimed by an experienced eye.
 
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#5,707
Bruce Johnson said:
Your technique is about what all the pros do. My late buddy Mike Lipe built about 3000 guitars in his life, and I think every one had the holes drilled just like that. A long drill bit, aimed by an experienced eye.
Click to expand...
That reminded me of working on doors from the place I retired from.
I had to drill from the hinge to the lock at times. For a wire chase.
Door ....1 3/4 thick.
48" 5/8 drill bit....
Slow and steady, aim well...
 
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#5,711
StereoPlayer said:
Another minor router job. I’m mortising the control plate.
I made this jig…from my old work skills.
After many test runs and adjustments….I’m ready.
Not as stressful as the other routes…but you only get one chance.
Next up….rounding the edges.View attachment 5031952View attachment 5031953
Click to expand...

Nice work! Good router template technique. Routing templates don't have to be pretty, but they need to be accurate. Spend your Craftsman time making the template perfect, including some test cuts, if you like, to check it. If it's not right, patch it or make another one. Templates are repairable and disposable. When it's right, make the cut in the instrument.
 
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#5,712
Bruce Johnson said:
Nice work! Good router template technique. Routing templates don't have to be pretty, but they need to be accurate. Spend your Craftsman time making the template perfect, including some test cuts, if you like, to check it. If it's not right, patch it or make another one. Templates are repairable and disposable. When it's right, make the cut in the instrument.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the kind words.
 
#5,713
Well, as predicted, she’s no beauty queen but she’s got a great sense of humor. Looks aren’t everything!
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1DCF450E-0491-41AF-B20C-2E73E7476628.jpeg

Adequately handled the wiggly grain of this scrap of oak and cut just fine in a test piece of poplar. I don’t think I’ll need to replace the iron after all. I’m pleased to see this plane working again and joining the rest of my fleet.

While I was rolling I also spent a little time cleaning up this flea market find: a Dunlap spokeshave, likely from the early 1930s. Dunlap was a Sears brand that pre-dated Craftsman and, I think, overlapped it for a couple of years.
1F9698C5-9079-4A68-9C7F-1C8F0D10F8A9.jpeg

3453C8E0-9B79-48F7-9909-126F7923AEE2.jpeg

This is my first spokeshave. I’ve never really played with one before today and, as I understand it, the better ones are much easier to adjust but I got it set up well after a couple of tries and was making nice, rounded faces on the edge of a scrap of holly in no time. Handy tool! I can easily see finding a few more of these to mess around with. They’re a little cheaper than basses.
 
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#5,714
Lo-E said:
Well, as predicted, she’s no beauty queen but she’s got a great sense of humor. Looks aren’t everything!
View attachment 5032492
View attachment 5032493
Adequately handled the wiggly grain of this scrap of oak and cut just fine in a test piece of poplar. I don’t think I’ll need to replace the iron after all. I’m pleased to see this plane working again and joining the rest of my fleet.

While I was rolling I also spent a little time cleaning up this flea market find: a Dunlap spokeshave, likely from the early 1930s. Dunlap was a Sears brand that pre-dated Craftsman and, I think, overlapped it for a couple of years.
View attachment 5032497
View attachment 5032498
This is my first spokeshave. I’ve never really played with one before today and, as I understand it, the better ones are much easier to adjust but I got it set up well after a couple of tries and was making nice, rounded faces on the edge of a scrap of holly in no time. Handy tool! I can easily see finding a few more of these to mess around with. They’re a little cheaper than basses.
Click to expand...


Plus the handles on the spokeshave are hollowed out so you get that cool hot rod look and a higher top speed!

Seriously, great work on that and the plane. I’ve been making a point to use hand tools more where applicable and enjoying it.
 
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#5,715
Lo-E said:
Well, as predicted, she’s no beauty queen but she’s got a great sense of humor. Looks aren’t everything!
View attachment 5032492
View attachment 5032493
Adequately handled the wiggly grain of this scrap of oak and cut just fine in a test piece of poplar. I don’t think I’ll need to replace the iron after all. I’m pleased to see this plane working again and joining the rest of my fleet.

While I was rolling I also spent a little time cleaning up this flea market find: a Dunlap spokeshave, likely from the early 1930s. Dunlap was a Sears brand that pre-dated Craftsman and, I think, overlapped it for a couple of years.
View attachment 5032497
View attachment 5032498
This is my first spokeshave. I’ve never really played with one before today and, as I understand it, the better ones are much easier to adjust but I got it set up well after a couple of tries and was making nice, rounded faces on the edge of a scrap of holly in no time. Handy tool! I can easily see finding a few more of these to mess around with. They’re a little cheaper than basses.
Click to expand...

I've got a small collection of hand planes, and they all look pretty much like that one. All Stanleys and one Sergeant; No. 3 through No. 7. I bought them for low prices because they were too ugly for the Plane Collector guys. I did just like you did, cleaned them up somewhat, but not too much. I put most of my effort into sharpening and tuning them, making them cut very well. They may be a little ugly, but they work. I don't use hand planes very much, but they are there on the shelf when I need them.

I also have a nice collection of old spokeshaves and drawknives. Fun for occasional use. And it was fun finding them at flea markets and restoring them.
 
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#5,716
Bruce Johnson said:
I've got a small collection of hand planes, and they all look pretty much like that one. All Stanleys and one Sergeant; No. 3 through No. 7. I bought them for low prices because they were too ugly for the Plane Collector guys. I did just like you did, cleaned them up somewhat, but not too much. I put most of my effort into sharpening and tuning them, making them cut very well. They may be a little ugly, but they work. I don't use hand planes very much, but they are there on the shelf when I need them.

I also have a nice collection of old spokeshaves and drawknives. Fun for occasional use. And it was fun finding them at flea markets and restoring them.
Click to expand...

I have a longtime friend who is an artist (lithographer), tradesman and tool restorer/collector. He has quite a collection of lovingly restored planes along with many other hand-tools.
 
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#5,717
Long time, no post. Lots of changes - lost my shop to a fire about 1.5 years ago, and I've been working on my apartment's patio ever since. Very different work flow (and MUCH slower). This is the latest. Being realistic, I'm hoping to have it done May/June 2023. That might even be too ambitious. Still happy to be building, albeit a bit differently than what I got used to over 12 years.

IMG_3847.jpeg IMG_3849.jpeg
 
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#5,718
Callan said:
Long time, no post. Lots of changes - lost my shop to a fire about 1.5 years ago, and I've been working on my apartment's patio ever since. Very different work flow (and MUCH slower). This is the latest. Being realistic, I'm hoping to have it done May/June 2023. That might even be too ambitious. Still happy to be building, albeit a bit differently than what I got used to over 12 years.

View attachment 5032854 View attachment 5032855
Click to expand...

Sorry about losing your shop in a fire. Sounds like you are doing what you can to do the things you love doing. Best of luck -
 
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#5,719
Bruce Johnson said:
I've got a small collection of hand planes, and they all look pretty much like that one. I bought them for low prices because they were too ugly for the Plane Collector guys. I did just like you did, cleaned them up somewhat, but not too much. They may be a little ugly, but they work.
Click to expand...
You more or less just described my entire plane arsenal - and probably a lot of people’s. I just clean them up to the point of functionality. As long as they’re smooth and rust-free and sharp, they’re good. I have mostly Stanleys and some outliers like Victor, Sargent and the new V&B in various sizes from 3 to 6 and a big, transitional 32 jointer that needs a little work.

I also have a surplus of little block planes of various types; several low-angle and several not. I’m not sure where they all came from. I think they’re reproducing when the shop lights are out. Realistically, I could probably cull them down to three or four but they look cute on the shelf so I don’t bother.
 
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