Tim - You need to make these

[CajunRider]

www.holteyplanes.com/

I got first dibbs.

[TDHofstetter]

Ya know... I've thought pretty hard about doing exactly that. I've GOT the equipment, I've GOT the understanding of what it takes to make a GOOD plane that works WELL... I've GOT access to all the materials I'd need, and I've GOT the confidence (blind stupidity?) to leap right in & give'r a bang. The only real challenge I see there is that pretty chamfer around the top... and surely I can come up with a good way to get that done.

[maxwellsmart007]

That looks really cool - I'd like to make one of those, but I have NONE of the skills or tools required!

[vicnb]

Tim-I see you have a whole list of reasons you can do it, nothing on the list that says you can't...........so whats the hold up? ;D lol.
I know with me time is usually the biggest limiting factor. Too many kettles cookin' and not enough hands to do all the the stirrin' for lack of a better phrase.

[Beamer]

That chamfer? Ain't that just brass? Disposable router bits, anyone?

Please put me on the list to get a low serial number (Like #1. I'd settle for #2) TDHofstetter Custom Infill Plane, please.

[Beamer]

Hofstetter Planes

... don't that just ... RING?

[Joe Lyddon]

Yes!

Add me to the list too!

Good name for them too!

I'm sure Tim can do it! He can do anything he wants to!

[TDHofstetter]

Aaa, c'mon, guys! ANY of us can do anything we want to!

Sure is tempting. WICKEDLY tempting. I wonder how involved brass casting is? Doesn't seem tough, after shrinkage gets taken into consideration... till I get a little foundry set up I could always use plate stock...

Lemme see about making up a prototype, see what I've failed to take into consideration.

[lexrex]

Tim, I can front you the money for a nice smoother. Brass sided with...maybe cocobolo infill...I'd have to think about it. Wonder how much of a bear those metal dovetails would be?

[Stretch]

I'd be down for getting a single digit serial number TD Hofstetter original. ;D

[TDHofstetter]

Oct 31, 2009 19:49:09 GMT -6 lexrex said:

Tim, I can front you the money for a nice smoother. Brass sided with...maybe cocobolo infill...I'd have to think about it. Wonder how much of a bear those metal dovetails would be?

Aw, those dovetails are WICKED easy with a milling machine. WICKED easy.

I've got a set of dovetail cutters for steel - that takes care of the tails. The pins are done with a quick drawing to get the spacing, then ya slew the vise around to half the dovetail angle & whap out one side of all the pins, slew the vise back around to the other half-angle & whap out the other side of all the pins. Bingo, pressure fit. Peen the tails when it's assembled & it'll never come apart again. Or... inset two screws and it WILL come apart again if ya ever want to change the infill or do an internal repair of some sort.

Mine'd be WORKIN' planes, not show planes... and I wouldn't be charging anything like what that fella charges (up to about $13,000 for a jointer plane).

EDIT: Ok, mine'd be DANG PRETTY workin' planes. Just not "just-for-show-and-if-they-ever-see-wood-I'll-rip-your-head-off".

[Joe Lyddon]

Let us know when you have a 'prototype' to be Beta tested... OK?

[admin]

Oct 31, 2009 21:47:28 GMT -6 TDHofstetter said:

Mine'd be WORKIN' planes, not show planes... and I wouldn't be charging anything like what that fella charges (up to about $13,000 for a jointer plane).

EDIT: Ok, mine'd be DANG PRETTY workin' planes. Just not "just-for-show-and-if-they-ever-see-wood-I'll-rip-your-head-off".

You mean it's possible to make a functional plane that is both pretty, and not outrageously priced?

I don't believe it. That, sir, is BLASPHEMY!

I read an article not too long ago, this guy was reviewing a high end A13, priced like 12,000, and he said it was beautiful, but if you used it more than three or four swipes, the back of the iron would rub a hole into the skin of your index finger.

[Stretch]

Here's a preview. I thought it needed something so I added the Gumby cause I always liked the Gumby. ;D

[Joe Lyddon]

That is SO COOL!

[TDHofstetter]

Geezum... that stirs them heartmuscles, it does!

Hey, Leo? How'd you like to CNC out my stamps for me?

Yep, I've no doubt I could make planes just about exactly like that one, for good example. I'd make the sole from either stainless or brass, though... so rust wouldn't be an issue. I don't like the knurling shown - it wouldn't be comfortable, and it'd pack up with crud if it was that deep. A good fat rc64 iron, though, and removable pivots and flat solid bedding for the iron. Nicely shaped hardwoods for the infill.

Yep, I can do that.

Serial number stamped (or engraved) into either the nose or a recess in the sole.

Front of the sole (ahead of the mouth) recessed one to two thousandths - no totally flat soles on my planes. The iron's optimum adjustment is LEVEL with the rear (unrecessed) part of the sole. That provides not only the best possible bearing surface for the plane, but also helps protect the iron from dulling on the backstroke (for those times you don't fully lift the plane on the backstroke).

[Joe Lyddon]

Where would you get the Blades?

[TDHofstetter]

I've run across a couple of online suppliers of big fat irons... but it'd sure be tempting to make my own so I'm not held captive by another manufacturer. I hate pizzing matches.

[Joe Lyddon]

COOL! ;D

[JBark]

Oct 31, 2009 8:05:25 GMT -6 maxwellsmart007 said:

That looks really cool - I'd like to make one of those, but I have NONE of the skills or tools required!

Hey, remember that these are made with a hacksaw, files, a ball pein hammer and a drill. It's nice to have a wholebunch of plug in tools but definitely not necessary. A whole lot of time is great to have too.

Get a hold of Jim Kingshott's book Making and Modifying Woodworking Tools, you'll see that the guy made aliving selling these things he made totally by hand (I'm pretty sure.)

John