I just want to speak up for my foolishness. I like tools and I really like to use planes. I've been looking at these little fellows for a couple years, just thought one would be really handy, but I'm cheap and Lee Valley is not. Anyway a little while back when I was sanding a fret board to the size of the neck I though about these again. And I though life is getting shorted and shorter, why not. So I bought one. I'm pretty darn happy I did. Pretty handy little plane and I find I grab it more and more. Well made, came with a pretty sharp blade although it could be sharper and I will work on it one of these days. Anyway, I'm happy and not a bit sorry, so nag away wife.... I deserve it (not the nagging, the tool) and actually my wife has never nagged about tools I have bought unless you count shacking her head just a little and the occasional "what now!" comment. It's called Little Victor plane. I like it.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=56665&cat=1,41182
I find that a nice Nicholson's rasp works best for shaping a neck and then a less aggressive one and then sanding. With the other planes and shaves you can splinter the wood and you have less control over the wood. I am not a expert on necks but like I said I have made many hundreds of bows and it is almost the same a making a neck. To be honest I used a sharp pocket knife to make a bow once, it took some time but I got it done. I used the blade like a wood scraper.
For carving, you might find a draw knife and spokeshave very useful. I use a spokeshave for shaping the neck all the time. I want to get a drw knife one of these days.
Dianne Woods said:
This is funny you should mention the plane. I just asked my husband if we had any hand planes. I want one to carve the neck, tail and head stock. He said he thought we had one or two---now to find them in the barn. Thank you for sharing this site.
very nice Paul you can never have too many planes mate ! :-) , you said the blade was not too sharp maybe it needs to be horned in most plane blades come with just the grind angle on them , there should be two angles on a plane blade the grind angle then the horning angle which produces the cutting edge it also stops the blade going blunt after a few passes- keeps the edge much longer
hope this helps mate
juju.
This is funny you should mention the plane. I just asked my husband if we had any hand planes. I want one to carve the neck, tail and head stock. He said he thought we had one or two---now to find them in the barn. Thank you for sharing this site.
Well I have been building bows for many years and have never used a little plane like that ever. I have used a cabinet scraper many times. I love it tho and would gladly add it to my collection. Nice find...
I know these small planes are very popular among bowyers (people who build archery equipment), and carving/shaping a bow is very similar to doing the same for a guitar neck.
Replies
Dianne Woods said:
hope this helps mate
juju.