From the Workshop

December 4, 2018

New Workshop Blog 3

Filed under: No 98 plane,Window to my workshop — Tags: handplanes, Karl Holtey Designs, precision hand plane, traditional — admin @ 3:06 pm

No 98 bronze lever caps

These are the last lever caps of this type. I also used them on my mitre planes. Gone forever as the foundry closed down and my patterns are lost.

After preparation including flattening, squaring etc, the profile is cut out.

The lever caps after profiling also showing centering hole to be bored to make ready for tapping

Tapping after the boring

The machining for the keep recesses so the lever cap can be released after 2-3 turns on the thumb screw

Ready for final shaping and polishing

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Discussion

Filed under: Discussion,Window to my workshop — Tags: adjuster, handplanes, precision hand plane, snecked — admin @ 10:14 am

I am hoping to get some feedback here, so please register if you haven’t already and comments will be appreciated.

Snecked Blades

In the course of my research I have found that the only planes that were made with snecked irons were shoulder planes, and the occasional thumb and chariot planes – these were side snecked as in my 11-s smoothing plane here (double sided sneck).

Mitre planes usually have top snecked irons, as in my No 10 shown here.

I can’t understand why smoothers and panel planes etc did not have snecked irons. Of course top snecking would require a longer blade as lever cap or wedge would restrict their use. A side sneck should still work on these planes.

Is it possible that the use of chip breakers had something to do with this?

I am working on a development plane at the moment and planning to make it a non-adjuster plane. I feel that having a snecked iron will make a considerable difference in setting up the blade. I am also wondering if users choose to use a non-adjuster plane because it is better or is it an elitist thing?

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November 27, 2018

New Workshop blog 2 (post retirement)

Filed under: No 98 plane,Window to my workshop — Tags: classic hand tools, Holtey, precision hand plane, stainless steel — admin @ 4:32 pm

Some more components for the No 98 plane. Showing the integral rivets being cut in situ

Finished items are the front and rear handle bosses. All in stainless steel as usual.

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November 26, 2018

New Workshop blog 1 (post retirement ????)

Filed under: No 98 plane,Window to my workshop — Tags: bespoke, Classic, stainless steel, traditional — admin @ 4:14 pm

During the course of finishing off bits and pieces out of the back of the cupboard I decided I would put together some more No 98 planes. I was horrified to find not all the pieces there. However, I had already promised a plane to someone so I need to get on with it.

I am just making components as I need them. I will start with some pictures of the adjuster boss and post as I go. This No 98 plane was the start of my own designs (and the start of bevel up smoothers in general). You will notice from just these few pictures how much work is involved.

An enormous set up for a tiny component

Planing the end off to initiate a 15 deg angle

Milling out the integral rivets at the same 15 deg.

The finished item

You can pick out where this item belongs

Over the years I have and many enquiries for this No 98 plane which I hadn’t been able to fulfill. So those of you who want one this is your only chance to get one. Just making a few. See my website for pricing.

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November 19, 2018

Another obituary

Filed under: Window to my workshop — admin @ 12:14 pm

It seems sad that I have only used this blog lately as an obituary for my four legged family. Sadly we have to add Harvey, our eldest and last Belgian Shepherd to the ones who have gone. He is going to leave a large void in our lives which will take some time to get used to.

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October 19, 2017

Anlon

Filed under: Window to my workshop — admin @ 12:43 pm

Another member of the team gone

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October 10, 2017

Window to my Workshop 116

Filed under: No 983 block plane,Window to my workshop — Tags: Classic, Holtey, precision hand plane — admin @ 3:06 pm

All the chassis work done on my No 983. A lot of f…… work done

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July 6, 2017

Window to my Workshop 115

Filed under: Drawings,No 983 block plane — Tags: dovetailed, Holtey, precision, traditional — admin @ 9:04 am

In conversations over the years I have always been praised for my (primitive) drawings as CAD is the way now. (See the dinsaour card on my Facebook page – thank you David) I have never had to time to learn CAD. The hardest thing was to learn an early Heidenhain control unit for my mill. I am just starting a new batch (yes, I know I am supposed to be retiring ) of these No 983 planes, mainly because I sold the last one which was mine, I am going to use this opportunity to explain some of the workings in more depth. Maybe because I am getting older the work seems to expand but I have never allowed economic restraints to get in the way.

Going back through some of my drawings, which are very untidy, I decided to post some up. Starting with this side layout of the No 983 – warts and all. This is how I work and then I have to convert it into a suitable dialogue for my Heidenhain. Luckily I am the only person who has to understand this.

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June 28, 2017

Photos of A31 Thumb plane

Filed under: A31 Thumb plane — Tags: adjuster, classic hand tools, precision hand plane — admin @ 4:17 pm

The A31 Thumb planes are now finished. The snakewood has come out really well

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June 19, 2017

Window to my workshop 114

Filed under: A31 Thumb plane,Window to my workshop — Tags: adjuster, tooling — admin @ 6:17 pm

I want to show off some of the finer detail in the making of my adjuster components and the tooling used to make them.

These are for my low angle planes:

This is a ball turner I made 30 years ago in the days when I was very enthusiastic for making miniature locos. Over time it has been used a lot in the making of my planes.

A fixture I made which is used for making my adjuster bases.

After the threaded stem and body has been ball turned a flat is needed so that it glides freely over the adjuster base and helps to orientate the blade driver. This is the flat after milling.

This is the blade drivers at different stages of their making. Two of which are still attached to their carriers, and one finished.

The last stage in the making of this blade driver is to turn the spigot on to its body. I had to make a special collet which was a little bit fussy because the spigot has to be formed 8 degrees from the perpendicular. Unlike the Norris counterpart it is all in one piece. Norris never went this far.

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