Adjuster components for A6
This item is most commonly known as the banjo and it is the most work intensive component in the whole plane. This picture shows that it comes out of a round bar.
There is a lot of preparation but this is not a step by step instruction manual, it is just a few snapshots. In these pictures, after lots of preparation I start to ball generate the round part of this component.
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A6 Part 2
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All of the woodworking has its edges squared up on the milling machine as I have a bit more confidence in this machine than I do a planer.
A pair of infill sides being drilled for riveting spacers. At this stage all edges are trued up
This is the infill side with the spacers pressed through the handle testing for fit. The two sides have yet to be separated.
The last batch of A6 planes part 1
After receiving a commission for an A6 smoother I decided to make a batch of six. The A6 is probably the most time consuming of the infill planes (well perhaps the A7 is worse!). When using the designation A6 one should realise that my A6 is not to be compared with the Norris or any other plane of this type – it is made to a higher precision and has some innovations not seen in the original. This standard is beyond the scope of those without a tool room; I am not aware of any comparison. I work from a reasonably equipped tool room; not a production line. All work is done in house with the exception of heat treatment for the blades.
Although this model has been blogged before I am running it through again as this A6 is just that little bit more special. I always try to make the current plane better than the preceding one. Also these will be the very last Holtey A6 planes. For all my innovations and upgrades my work is veiled by the Norris history and I feel it is time to move on.
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The first part of starting the plane is to get the timber chosen and prepared so giving the wood some time to settle whilst making a start on the metal work.
Here is a stunning piece of Cocobolo (Dalbergia Retusa) which was cut from a very nice log that I acquired from Timber Line a couple of years ago – thanks to a friend who spotted it on a visit there. This is the basic roughing out for the infill components.
With the wood put aside to rest, a good starting point is the blades as they need to be sent away for the heat treatment. This shows the milling of the faceted end and slot.
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I have just found this blog entry for No 982 smoother that I forgot to finish. As it is very similar to the blog entry for the No 982 panel plane 14 1/2″ I have already done this week I thought I would just publish the pictures with no comments.
A few more pictures to conclude the subject of polymer. Feel free to comment on whether it is worth it when you have seen the finished product.
Hopefully this plane will be on exhibition at the WIA conference next month with The Best Things.
As you can see the polymer is worked in the same way as wood and the shaping is all done by hand.
Another view showing the fixing recess.
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A6 dovetail infill smoother
It was always my intention with this blog to show how much work goes into my planes and I hope that the format I have chosen has been successful as I don’t have much time to talk about my minutiae of everyday life and just stay focused on the work in hand. I am sorry that my postings are so random but as they are time consuming I cannot afford to put them before my work. I hope that you can see that my workshop is a serious workplace. I have difficulty finding time for travelling to tool events. I know this makes me seem a recluse but I can assure you that plane making to me is more than a full time occupation.
Sorry there has been such a gap since the last posting (and the time before), but any spare time I have had lately has been taken up with visitors and I have had to make some effort in my social life. If anyone is thinking of visiting you must be prepared to climb a mountain as this is my relaxation.
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The prefix on the smoothing plane is almost irrelevant as the techniques are the same. I feel that there are a lot of pieces missed out and this post is to try and fill the gaps. I will also try and fill in any gaps on the No 982 next. Then I will move on to new projects.
The A6 is the only overstuffed plane in my range and is one of the main difference to the A13.
Sometimes it is nice to photograph components at this stage as it is an insight into some of the work. Once everything is assembled it is gone forever.
As you can see here that the rear infill is made up in three parts. In the second picture you can see the three parts assembled showing the brass rivet spacers/sleeves and the recessing for the sides and adjuster. Also the adjuster fixing bar and the handle spine.
As I have mentioned before most of my entries will be piece meal and out of sequence. On this occasion I have managed to take some pictures whilst making chip breakers. Apologies for missing the bending and forming of the front edge of the chip breaker but I forgot to take the pictures.
These chip breakers are standard on all my smoothing planes with 2 ¼” blades. They are made from gauge plate.
Milling the faceted end of the chip breaker with a rough cutter.
Just a couple of pictures that got left off Post no 38 on the A6
Just a few quick pictures of this Boxwood A13 I have just finished
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