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I'm about to purchase a couple of finger planes. Their primary use will be for shaping top braces et al. Stew-Mac has several different widths though.

Since I can't afford 8 planes (4 flat and 4 convex), which size will be the most useful at the beginning. I can then fill out the set later.

Thanks, Steve

I have a 3/4" convex that I use for carving braces and I think it works better for that purpose than a flat one.John How38762.4446064815

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Yep, I have the 1/2" convex for brace carving and I love it although it clogs with shavings relatively fast...also, shop around the internet...prices on the Sloan IBEX ones vary quite a bit...(of course SMac IS a sponsor! ).

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I have the biggest IBEX curved bottom plane that Lee Valley sells. I use that, a couple of paring chisels and a low angle block plane for carving braces. I love the little finger plane and find no need to think of purchasing any other sizes....Hey wait a minute, did I actually say that....HONEY, I THINK I AM GETTING OVER BEING A TOOL JUNKY!!!!!

Shane

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Canada

Take a look at the Kunz flat sole. I have a convex violin Ibex but prefer the Kunz. There is a link on the resources link above. I have the one without the squirrel tail, but that might actually be nice?

I'll sometimes run down the slope of braces with the Ibex, but mainly use a chisel for that.

I checked the resource page but didn't find it. Here it is at Woodcraft.



http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=5759

Come to think of it. I probably need to spend some time on the Ibex at the sharpener. I see John's post above and that's all he uses? Hmmmm. Sharp tools do cut better. I'm gonna pull it out and look. I know I've sharpened the Kunz many times.Bruce Dickey38762.4583101852

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Hi just happens i make a couple of nice little brace planes
               

If this post is inapropriate please delete

   Mark

Welcome Mark...do you have a website, or more info on cost and availability?

I think your post is very appropriate.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Well, Like most things on this forum, there is no one answer. I might have known!

Thanks for the input!

Mark, I'm not sure I can afford them (or even the shipping ) but could you PM me with the details? Then I can figure out which way to go.

Thanks all, Steve

Hi Mark and welcome here!

Serge

Alan Dunwell has a cool way to make a "Fleet" of Finger Planes. Looks pretty easy: http://www.dunwellguitar.com/FingerPlanes/MyDesign.htm

Steve, good prices on the Ibex range HERE, Ken Wise is of same treated me very well, nice people.

Hi Mark, welcome to the OLF, your little planes look nice and solid, are they any cheaper than the Ibex? A2 blades?

Cheers all.

Kim

Wow seems not thems good prices. but mine are not cast they are milled from solid brass and they are beter looking Mark.

Thanks Alan for the link!

I'm very fond of the Schneider plane that LMII carries - all I use for brace shaping are this and a glue-clearing chisel. A little pricey, though. But, I reiterate, I really like it.

Jim Kirby

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Alan, thanks for the link. I tried one tonight. Looks and works great. Now I have to make some more for different cuts.
Make that nine. They`re kinda fun to make, too!Cocephus38763.1798032407

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

I've got the largest of the IBEX finger planes, convex sole, and it's an absolute champ for brace carving. A real pleasure. The nice oval body shape also helps prevent digging into the top. No corners, softened or otherwise. Small than this one seems a bit like overkill.

You may want to try the St. James Bay Tool Co.(http://www.stjamesbaytoolco.com/) They sell planes very similar to the ones pictured above made by Mark. They are also handmade, solid brass and, in most cases less expensive than the Ibex planes. I have the 1/2" bow scraper plane, and it works extremely well shaping braces. One of the best tools that I have.

Jeremiah,

Would you tell us some more about the St. James bow scraper planes?
Specifically, the angle of the iron looks more like a plane angle than a high
scraper angle. It would seem that they must take just a dusting off at a time,
if used as a scraper, unless you give the edge one heck of a hook. Or are
they really used as a plane? Is the sole is flat?

Brook

St. James Bay Tool Co. is run by Bob Howard. Web link is stjamesbaytoolco.com His shop is in Mesa AZ, not too far from where I live. He can probably make any tool you want. In fact, he has told me that he's been asked a couple of times to make things that the person did not realize were already on the market, and then he was able to get it for them at a much more reasonable cost. He has also reproduced tools that are no longer in production. He's a good guy and makes very nice tools.

Joe Volin

[QUOTE=Cocephus] Alan, thanks for the link. I tried one tonight. Looks and works great. Now I have to make some more for different cuts.
Make that nine. They`re kinda fun to make, too![/QUOTE]

De nada. They do look like fun to make. I'm so backed up on projects that those have taken a back seat! Where did you come up with the plates for yours?

Alan, When I change out the blades in my razor knife, I put them in a jar for safer disposal. Now I know just what to do with them. The steel is perfect for blades. I lived rather dangerously and ground them on my grinding wheel to get them roughed in, then dressed them on two different grades of stones. If anyone else wants to try grinding thier own blades, let me say this. Don`t hold them with pliers or anything of the sort. The wheel will catch and break them, sending schrapnel flying! Wear leather gloves as well as eye protection. Take your time and let the machine do the work for you. Touch the piece to the wheel very lightly and don`t let them get hot.

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

I have several Ibex and shop made finger and palm planes that I use for carving mandolin plates. As much as I love these, I don't use them for shaving braces.   I find that a really sharp paring chisel is better suited for the job; faster, doesn’t bump into other braces and you can shape the whole section of the brace all the way down to the soundboard easily. I use a chisel with a fairly steep bevel and softly curve the “belly” (the part where the front of the blade meets the bevel) to ease the carving of concave parts of the braces.   This chisel will cut spruce like butter, but it won’t hold an edge for long in hardwoods, so I use it only for braces. When the brace stock is straight and split right and the chisel is this sharp, you hardly have to use any force on the tool, you won’t have problems controlling the cut and there will be less chance of hitting the soundboard.Arnt38764.2060763889

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Brook,

You're right. The plane as I received it took off minute amounts, but I merely filed some relief into the throat of the plane and flipped the blade over bevel side down. These modifications made a world of difference. It removes just the right amount of wood and I have become very comfortable with it. This plane has a flat sole.