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| Tool Artist |
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If you ask any cabinet-maker what's their most precious tool, it's likely to be a plane. Rodney Hayward, a cabinet-maker for 15 years, took his dedication to the art of cabinet making one step further and decided to make his own.
He made his first plane, (which he still uses every day), out of some old drawer fronts using instructions from a book. Rodney has made more than 20 planes since then. He began making his own because he queried the way most people worked with wood. He felt that he could work so much better than he was currently doing.
Inspired by a book by James Krenov, an author and cabinet-maker, Rodney wrote to him in the US. After 3 years of waiting, Rodney met his "idol" and attended his woodwork school in California.
Advantages of a Handmade Plane
Rodney says although good chisels are readily available, a good plane is not. Ordinary planes you buy in a hardware store are suitable when constructing a house but not for fine furniture. A handmade plane gives a more delicate and smoother finish.
When you use a handmade plane you have closer contact with the work. You can feel the plane cutting through the wood compared to a metal plane that acts more like a machine and isolates you from your work. It is also designed specifically for you so it fits your hand perfectly.
Plane Making Process - a Quick Guide
1
Select a wood that has a reasonable weight, is stable and resistant to wear. Rodney often uses Quilla or Cook town ironwood. Both timbers are mainly used in construction and are too heavy to be suitable for furniture but are fine for a plane body.
2
Years ago when planes were commonly used, they were carved from a solid block of timber. However today's adhesives make it possible to laminate timbers, saving time and money. Cut and shape the "plane body" into three and then using PVA glue, stick all three pieces back together again. Allow about 12 hours for the glue to dry.
3
Insert the pin which will hold the blade in place. This is made out of ironbark and shaped with a file, small wooden plane and a chisel.
4
Wedge the "iron" or blade under the pin. (Rodney imports irons from the States but says you can often salvage the blades from old planes at flea markets). The iron is set at 45 degrees for usual cutting but for specific problems, the angle can be higher or lower than this. Sculpt the plane to give a smooth finish. It takes Rodney 1-2 days to complete the process.
Rodney says that being a fine cabinet-maker is a way of life rather than a way to make a living. But he says the price you pay is worth the lifestyle. Rodney would rather teach people the skills of cabinet making and making planes then just making them to sell.
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Cost
Handmade planes cost $150 - $180 each, (including blade) plus postage.
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More Info
Contact Rodney Hayward,
Lot 50, Panorama Road,
Bundanoon NSW 2578.
Ph: (02) 4883 6160.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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