Just about a disaster, but in the end an interesting project and a very nice little tool. Hammered bronze surface looks sort of art deco. The mouth is almost invisibly tight, yet produces shavings. Sits very nicely in the hand. Highly decorative. I like it!
User comments next weekend (back to work tomorrow, oh dear!).
Visible on-line at www.macpherson.co.nz
Malcolm
Replies
Malcolm,
I don't have any comments, but I'm really enjoying the posts and pictures. thanks
Malcolm, Can't see any evidence of disaster there, but maybe it's your photography ;)(:
Neither can I see the hammered bronze look. I take it the photos show the Macpherson lowered bun-If you now regret that you could always screw on a suitably shaped piece for the thumb to hook round on, by using brass machine screws counter sunk to just before the slot and then ground off flush. (sorry, you would have to cut/file/gingerly angle/disk grind/finishbyhand in the absence of the aforementioned belt grinder) <G>
Check the web site Philip - have arrived at version 3 of this plane. The new sleigh shape works well - my index finger presses directly down on the front of the plane, directly in front of the cutting sdge. Seems to put me in better touch with what the iron is doing. Some early Stanleys (and others?) were this shape, one I recall with a finger 'dimple' on the front and no bun at all.
On line at http://www.macpherson.co.nz, bottom of the PLANES section on the front page.
Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz
User notes, Shepherd chariot
Been using this little plane to clean up small pieces of wood (box fittings) and as a miniature smoother and it works very well - actually better than my faithful Briston Design block plane.
Maybe it's the very fine mouth, but I find I can set it up to take full-width whisper shavings quite quickly. Fits nicely in the hand, and the flat nose/sleigh shape is comfortable to hold. Index finger sits almost exactly above the mouth, which gives a sense of where the cutting action is, and allows the right amount of downward pressure.
If you're considering a first plane-making project, this one would be ideal.
Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz
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