Lever caps as used on my No 98 and Norris styled mitre planes
No 98 lever cap part machined
When the castings come back from the foundry there is still a lot of work to be done before I can even think about polishing. This involves flattening, and determining a datum – usually the centre line of the thumb screw. Then everything is lightly over machined to remove some of the unwanted texture and draughting (this is a taper to aid release of the pattern during moulding).
Drilling and tapping for thumb screw (14 tpi square thread, the traditional Norris style).
Retaining recess for removable lever cap. This lever cap remains captive for more than 2 revolutions on the thumb screw before it can be extracted.
Lever cap showing its retaining recess complete.
Hi there,
Interesting, I`ll quote it on my site later.
Comment by Pett — July 7, 2009 @ 5:16 am
Just a quick note to say thank you for putting photos of your work online. Sadly, I’m not in the position to purchase one of your planes and, being honest, I’m not sure that I’ll ever be able to afford one. Please understand, however, that I would if I could. Having built one infill by hand based on Jim Kingshot’s books/plans, I have some understanding of the time and skill required. Your tolerances look incredibly tight and the photos leave me inspired.
Comment by Graham — July 9, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
Karl,
We all have to collectively thank you for your generousity in sharing an almost blow-by-blow account of your plane building process. Given the segment of the market in which you operate, i would have thought many of your photos would be kept away from public gaze. I suppose not many people have the means or skill required to emulate what you do.
Having followed the progress of your work for what now seems like years, I am chuffed to bits that at last you have a blog to share the goings on in your business. Keep it up!
The photos you show of the various stages of manufacture are truly inspiring – the way you shape those delicious looking blocks of rosewood and brass border on the attention to detail used in gunsmithing or instrument making. Truly great stuff.
Once again, thank you.
Richard
Melbourne
Comment by Richard — July 10, 2009 @ 9:55 pm
Hi Richard
Thank you for your observations. When you are making tools of this quality then you need to show the whole story.
k
Comment by admin — July 11, 2009 @ 10:38 am
Very interesting stuff about A window into my workshop 7 « From the Workshop . Thanks and keep up the good work. Merry christmas to u all
Comment by pleyboy — December 31, 2009 @ 10:41 am