Plane Making

I have been fascinated with antique handplanes, and people making modern reproductions of and new takes on them, for years. I have a modest collection of planes, and am taking early steps into making some of my own. Plow planes of all types, wooden planes, and infill planes are my favorites.

Here I collect notes from my projects, document in-progress planes, and offer drawings and measurements of some of the antique planes in my collection.

Featured Planes

Mouse-Shaped Rabbet Plane

Unknown Maker • 19th century

Cast shell; mahogany stuffing.

An absolutely delightful little rabbet plane in the shape of a mouse. The touch of whimsy seems out of step with the major commercial makers of the time, which makes me think it might be craftsman-made. It appears to have been well-used as the blade has only 0.43 inches of meat left. No maker's mark appears on the plane or blade.

Sole: 5.475" x 0.480"
Iron: 0.480"
Bed Pitch: 13.25°

STEP Model

View 3D model

Infill Panel Plane

Unknown Maker • c. 1900-1920

Cast shell, rosewood or mahogany infill

ISAAC GREAVES iron & HEARNSHAW chipbreaker. Bronze cap and knurled locking screw. "2 1/4" is cast into the back of the lever cap. Oxidized but very clean iron frame. The front bun is attached with a partially lapped screw up through the sole. The front bun is likely a replacement as it is of a different wood than the rear and the pattern does not appear in the catalogs of the major makers of the period.

Sole: 15 3/4" x ?"
Iron: 2 1/4"
Pitch: ?°

No. 7 Smoothing Plane

Spiers (Ayr) • c. 1890s

Dovetailed shell, rosewood infill

Parallel THOS. IBBOTSON iron. SPIERS-AYR staped upside down on the lever cap.*

Sole: 9"
Iron: 2 1/8"
Pitch: 50°