Official Luthiers Forum!

So I'd like to find me a nice old plane on eBay, hopefully for $10 like Jeff
did     

But I'm not sure if the corrugated sole is better than smooth or not.
Thoughts?

Mike

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

From what I know and that's not much. Corrugated sole planes are used more for softwoods. So stick to flat bottom plane. Since you will be mainly using it on hardwoods. This is the answer I got from and older wood worker I used to know when I was younger. The only reason I remember this cause I asked the same question you are.

Thanks, Michael.

I'm looking for a plane to join tops and backs, so I guess that would
include softwoods and hardwoods! I'm thinking a #5 1/2, or 6.

I also need a plane for thicknessing tops. What does everyone use for
that? #4, #5? I'd think I'd want a corrugated sole for that purpose, right?
I'm just not sure about the plane for jointing.

Mike

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

A number 6 or 7 for joining tops and backs would be good. The longer the better for joining tops and backs. I would stick with a flatbase because I think a corrugated might cause some problems with such thin stock used for tops and bottoms. Just my opinon. I have a No 5 1/4 its a lighter version of a no 5 that was meant for students and women. Trust me it's good enough for a man. I picked it up new at a Stanley Hardware store they were closing down around 15 years ago. It perfect for thicknessing tops. I have seen them cheap on ebay. That or a no 5 would be perfect. I'm sure more people will chime in with some good points for you.

For many years my Dad's WWII era 5 1/4 was my only plane. I shot my first recent tops and backs with it. I did put a Hock iron in it.I've rarely seen anyone comment that they could really tell the working difference with corrugations.MT

Mike,
I use a jointer plane with a corrugated base for joining tops and backs. I bought it years ago for another purpose but it seems to work just fine in luthier as well.   

Thanks everyone!

Todd, I've never heard of camelia oil. I'll have to check it out.

I'll look into the 5 1/4 too.

Robbie, do you know what number yours is?

Mike

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

The theory behind corrugated sole planes is there is less surface area /
friction, therefore more energy is put into cutting the wood rather than
pushing the plane. I suppose this is true on big planes, wide planks (full
width cuts) and long planing sessions (pre power tools)
I own both types and haven't really noticed the difference in performance.
If I had my preference for lutherie work (top, back jointing, etc) I'd say
look for a smooth sole.

Camelia oil:
http://www.hidatool.com/woodpage/misc.html

Or my preference for slippy sliding stuff:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000223UD/qid=1151077484/
sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4834438-1450428?%
5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Welp, I heard another theory regarding the slotted sole planes. The claim is the slots relieve the sole's tendency to move as it cools down from the casting/forging process, allowing it to stay closer to dead flat, hence requiring less truing up after the piece has cooled.

Recently I've begun using this old Stanley Bailey No.6 that I inherited from my Grandfather for shooting tops and backs. It actually works very well, and I haven't even trued the sole yet.



Best,

Michael

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live

Pretty much anything used with care and a sense of feel will joint thin stock when used with a decent shooting board. It can be done with a block plane with a consistent hand from experience-or really good luck. I posted a pic of my bare-bones shooting board a while back. For a really nice one go to Lie-Nielsen,under block planes look at the true miter plane and click on the Charlesworth design. The next one I do will follow that. Nowadays, I use a fully fettled 606 Bedrock with Hock iron and cap for most shooting. I do have the "Dreadnought" of planes, 608, but I rarely get out the chain hoist to use it.MT

Mike hears a listing on ebay now for a 5,6 and 7 planes in one auction check it out.Ebay Planes

Hey Todd,

Interesting. I got out my loupe and examined the sole of the above plane. I see no tooling marks. But the slots might have been ground.

Best,

Michael

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live

[QUOTE=ToddStock] Chas:

Thanks for the links! Camelia oil is the standard anti-rust/lube used by Japanese artisans. I also had a girlfriend that would use just a few drops in her hair after a shower, so very pleasant associations.

...and the oil is a plant extract in any case, so non-toxic assuming it's pure.

[/QUOTE]

... like walnut dust and shavings, or poison ivy oil, or ... Todd, such notions!   

I use a 5 for jointing backs and sides. On my shooting board, which is about 24" or so long, I think I'd have trouble with a longer plane getting unwieldy.

I really followed ebay for a while, picking up Stanleys - ended up with a 3, 4, 4C, 5, 5-1/4, 6 and 7.

_________________
Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

For a #6 on ebay- item # 102250434101 might be worth a watch. Don't know how to link,sorry. MT

Mike-

The corrugated sole isn't any more useful that a regular sole for most woodworking chores. I have a bunch of planes and don't notice a difference between the two types of soles. Save some money on Ebay and just get the regular soled Stanleys - most corrugated soled planes go for a bit of a premium.

I personally use an old Stanley #4, an old Stanley #5 1/2 and new Anants #4 1/2 and #8. They all were cheap and work great after I tuned them up. I got the Stanleys on Ebay for less than $30 each and the Anants were from Highland Hardware.

Good luck-

_________________
John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

[QUOTE=Michael Shaw] Mike hears a listing on ebay now for a 5,6 and 7
planes in one auction check it out.Bailey-Planes-Three-No-5-No-6-No
-7_W0QQitemZ102250874499QQihZ010QQcategoryZ13874QQssPageNa
meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">Ebay Planes[/QUOTE]

Thanks Michael. I wish I'd seen that one earlier! I just won a #6 (smooth
bottom), and am
winning on another #6 (corrugated) because I got a little confused with all
the others I'm watching    It's actually this one that Mike suggested,
now that I look at it!

[QUOTE=Miketobey] For a #6 on ebay- item # 102250434101 might be
worth a watch. Don't know how to link,sorry. MT[/QUOTE]

Thanks guys!

Mike

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Mike, that one's a dead ringer for mine. Works great! I think you'll be quite happy with it.

Best,

Michael

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live