Australian Wood Review - June 2018

http://www.woodreview.com.au 41

PROJECT

The dimensions are shown in fig.1,
but there is no ‘standard’ shape for
shoulder planes and you can choose
whatever pleases you. If you use a
different blade or side shape ensure
the arch over the throat cut-out is deep
enough to maintain body stiffness, and
also allow for sufficient protrusion of
the blade tang for adjustment. Note
also that shoulder planes usually have
a longer toe than regular bench planes
(typically, more than a third, but less
than half of the sole length). This helps
to register it firmly on the work when
starting the cut.

The shaded areas on the diagram
represent the 1/2" thick core pieces
through which the fixing rivets pass.
The blade cannot be removed through

a fine mouth, so allowance must be

made for it to be twisted vertically and

withdrawn through the wedge slot.

Parts for the body were cut from

two pieces of brass; the core pieces

from a 140mm length of 13 x 39mm

(1/2 x 1-1/2") bar, and the sides from

350mm of 75 x 3.2mm (3 x 1/8").

Rivets were cut from 5/32" (~4mm)

brass rod. Some makers prefer steel

rivets, so if you like the contrast,

bullet-head nails are soft and easy

to peen, and make excellent rivets.

Saw, file and sand

the shapes

Make accurate cardboard templates

for your sides and core pieces, but

before transferring to the brass,

draw-file the edges that will form

the bottom of the sole to get rid of

the slight rounding that occurs on

the edges of drawn bar. I cut out

the shapes on a crude ‘bird-mouth’

clamped to the bench (photo 1).

A jewellers saw takes a little bit of time

to master, but after a few broken blades

you’ll get the hang of it. Set a steady

rhythm, and try to cut close to your

layout lines to minimise cleaning up,

but don’t cut into your lines, especially

along the sides of the blade bed.

It required a few different approaches

to reach far enough into the cuts with

my saw, but I managed it by making

multiple cuts as shown in photo 2.

I couldn’t reach the top of the mouth

sides 3.2 mm

65 mm

175 mm

core 12.7 mm

65 mm

Fig.1 Brass body dimensions (scale to suit)

A 25mm brass shoulder plane

with ringed-gidgee infill.