Replies

1. 
   Wingdoctor | May 12, 2009 04:44am | #1

   If you want a good plow plane try this one by Lee Valley, I have it and it is a really nice tool.

   View Image

   It will cost you more than $62 but you already know that you get what you pay for. :<) It comes in both left and right hand versions.

   Cross grain dados will probably require you to score the edges and maybe deepen the edge cuts with a chisel as you go deeper into the dado. You will also be limited to dados close to one end or the other if you use the fence.

   Many people use a layout gauge to score the lines, chisel the edge to deepen the outline and clean out the dado with a dado width chisel or a router plane.

   There are many ways to skin a cat, and just as many ways to cut grooves, rabbets, and dados.

   I am not the expert that some here on Knots are, but this should get you started to thinking. Hand tools are nice to use, but they are not necessarily a cheap way to go if you desire to use the specialized tools. But again, a sharp chisel and marking gauge will make many of the cuts you desire, just a bit slower.

   Bruce

    

   "A man's got to know his limitations." Dirty Harry Calahan
1. 
   tomcarver | May 13, 2009 01:53am | #5

   Hi Wing,
   Thanks for the reply. I think I will try the chisel and router plane while saving up for a plow. I keep you updated on my progress, maybe even a few pics.
   Thanks again.Tom Goodman
   Bailey, NC

2. 
   tomcarver | May 14, 2009 04:38am | #7

   Hi Wingdoctor,
   Are you able to cut rabbets with the LV small plow?Thanks,
   Tom

1. 
   Wingdoctor | May 14, 2009 05:14am | #8

   You can cut rabbets with the LV small plow plane. Remember that the widest blade for the LV plane is 3/8" so that is the widest rabbet you can cut in one pass. It would be possible to cut the a 3/8" wide rabbet and then reset the fence to make it wider, but usually 3/8" is wide enough for most purposes.

   I made a small wooden fence extension for mine as Derek Cohen did for his in his review of the LV Plow Plane. Derek used Jarrah, I used a nice piece of bubinga. That made it a little easier to hold against the edge of the board, and it really looks cool too!

   If you need wide rabbets and want to cut them in one pass the LV Skew Rabbet Planes are nice but cost a few dollars. Actually more than a few! I bought a set when they were first announced and really like them also. I'm sliding down the slippery slope very fast! That plane is here. And in the picture below.

   View Image

   They really do a nice job for the wider rabbets and with a left and right plane the grain direction can be handled nicely.

   I have plenty of power tools but I am finding that I really like the good hand tools also.

   Bruce"A man's got to know his limitations." Dirty Harry Calahan

2. 
   dkellernc | May 12, 2009 06:31pm | #2

   Tom - If this style of box suits you, you might want to purchase the latest issue of Popular Woodworking (June 09) and Woodwork Magazine (Spring 09) - both are commonly found at bookstore newstands.  There's an article by Peter Follansbee in both of these magazines on carving oak panels for a joined chest (Pop Woodworking) and making a 17th century carved "bible box".

   One part of the Woodwork article should interest you - the boxes that Peter describes generally do not have mitered corners.  17th and 18th century boxes, by the way, very rarely have mitered corners - that's a 20th century thing.  Most of them were dovetailed or rabbeted and nailed.  He pictures methods for cutting rabbets and grooves with a marking gauge, a saw, and a chisel - no joinery plane required.

   It's worth buying these two magazine issues if you're into carved boxes.

1. 
   tomcarver | May 14, 2009 01:08am | #6

   Hello Dkellernc,
   I am familiar with the articles you mentioned. I think I have the issue with Follensby and the Bible box. I saw him on the Woodwights Shop making the same box. Very cool. Boxes without miters, who would have thunk it! I will definitely try it. Thanks for the note.Tom Goodman

3. 
   AdamCherubini | May 12, 2009 07:55pm | #3

   tradionally, plows were used for cutting grooves.  Rabbets were cut by rabbet planes.  There are square and skew rabbets for with and cross grain respectively. 

   For cross grain rabbets, a moving fillester is helpful.  For dadoes, special planes called (get this) dado planes are used. :)  Dado planes look a bit like skew rabbets and one may be tempted to use a rabbet for this purpose.  But dado planes have depth stops and nicker irons and they are designed to cut flush to both sides whereas rabbets are usually only designed to cut to the right side.

   So, yeah there are specialty planes for all of the joints you mention and many joints you didn't!

   Adam 

    

    

1. 
   tomcarver | May 13, 2009 01:47am | #4

   Hi Adam,
   Thanks for you informative and mildly humorous reply. I wish i could say I'm going to order those planes now, but I think I will have to save up a little first.
   Thanks again.Tom Goodman
   Bailey, NC