What kind of plane is this?

[Darren Wright]

I found this a while back, first the plane block, later the blade, then in another box the wedge. I'm not sure if it's missing anything else or not. I didn't think much about it and thought it might be for screen doors, but looking at it closer the other day, it has a metal spline with a cut-out for the blade to protrude down within.


I'm kind of guessing the spline would follow an edge or saw kerf to make a dado or rabbet. Maybe for drawer bottoms/boxes?

 

[Darren Wright]

Well, might have answered my own question...

Drawer Bottom Plane - Red Rose Reproductions

A common method of drawer construction is to plow grooves into the drawer sides and front to capture the drawer bottom, which is then slid in from the back.

redrosereproductions.com

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1459024993/made-to-order-drawer-bottom-wooden-hand

 

[Darren Wright]

Looks like that first link also sells kits to make your own...

Tools - Red Rose Reproductions

The Drawer Bottom Plane Kit includes a full size print, tapered iron, two piece steel skate, and mounting screws. Learn more here .

redrosereproductions.com

 

[Darren Wright]

Guess I just needed to look a little closer too, printed in the end of the plane.

Bartlett No. 99 Grooving Plane, 1/2 inch | Vintage Woodworking Tools

SKU: 79291/2" boardsCuts 1/8" groove

www.vintagewoodworkingtools.com

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Looks pretty groovy either way....

Certainly a lot quicker to use than setting up a combo plane for that use case.

 

[Mike Stafford]

Looks pretty groovy either way....

Certainly a lot quicker to use than setting up a combo plane for that use case.

If you have ever watched Roy Underhill of The Woodwright's Shop fame, you know that statement is true. He did more stuff, used more tools and spilt more blood and accomplished more in a half hour than I ever did in an electrically powered shop.

By the time you got out the right cutters, made the set up, cut a test piece and then actually cut the piece you needed you could have done a whole set if you were as good as Roy.

 

[Darren Wright]

So I sharpened up the blade and gave it a try, but was getting some tear out on one side. I was also getting shavings jammed up on that side.


After reviewing others pics of their planes, it seems I put the wedge on the wrong side of the blade

Once I corrected that it had a much cleaner cut. It took about 6 passes in the 2x4 to get full depth. I still need to play around with the blade depth, which I’m sure will be different for different woods/grains


I also cleaned up the plane body a bit and gave it a coat of Johnson’s paste wax.

 

[Jim DeLaney]

As you've probably already learned, the best way to use most moulding planes is to start at the far end of the workpiece and gradually work your way back.