Router Plane

Leevalley sells replacement blades. If it were me, I'd by the lee Valley.
Though I'm fully capable of making one like it, I couldn't do it for that
price.

"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick around
> with bidding. I define inexpensive, in this context, as something
> between $20-$40.
>
> See the links[1][2] below for the general type of plane I'm thinking
> of. $90 for something like this seems ludicrious to me. I can
> understand the higher prices for something like the Veritas/Lee
> Valley router plane[3] as that's got some engineering in it--but
> it's overkill for what I need it for.
>
> I can also see building a wooden body myself and then buying the
> cutter from some place. Any tips/plans/pictures for something like
> this?
>
> Thanks.
>
> [1]:
http://www.amazon.com/St-James-Bay-Tool-Co-S27/dp/B0009E1YUM/sr=1-161/qid=1168809246/ref=sr_1_161/104-0464795-5690322?ie=UTF8&s=hi
> [2]:
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/products_id/2765
> [3]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=51&p=52609
>
> --
>
> If you want to reply via email, change the obvious words to numbers and
> remove ".invalid".

Michael Faurot wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick around
> with bidding. I define inexpensive, in this context, as something
> between $20-$40.
>
> See the links[1][2] below for the general type of plane I'm thinking
> of. $90 for something like this seems ludicrious to me. I can
> understand the higher prices for something like the Veritas/Lee
> Valley router plane[3] as that's got some engineering in it--but
> it's overkill for what I need it for.
>
> I can also see building a wooden body myself and then buying the
> cutter from some place. Any tips/plans/pictures for something like
> this?
>
> Thanks.
>
> [1]: http://www.amazon.com/St-James-Bay-Tool-Co-S27/dp/B0009E1YUM/sr=1-161/qid=1168809246/ref=sr_1_161/104-0464795-5690322?ie=UTF8&s=hi
> [2]: http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/products_id/2765
> [3]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=51&p=52609

I have a Stanley 271 (the smaller plane). Nothing beats it for paring
a dado to exact depth. Only prob is since it's finger powered, you
can't easily take more than an index card's thickness in one pass.
The Veritas 71 copy would plow through wood a lot easier, and the
price really doesn't look that bad if it delivers on its promises.

Michael Faurot wrote:

> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick around
> with bidding.

eBay. Look at the non-collectable #71s that close in the next hour and
just bid generously. You won't buy one for an absolute bargain price
but you'll still save on new. A #271 is even more useful (I love mine)
but they're rare enough to not be commonplace.

Australopithecus scobis <[email protected]> wrote:

> Nice.

Thanks!

> Does the thumbscrew go into a Tee nut or a mortised hex nut?

It's a threaded insert. I don't have a picture of the one I used,
but it's very similar to the one at this URL[1]. I found mine at
Home Depot in the nuts/bolts/screws hardware aisle.

[1]: http://www.yardleyproducts.com/fiber-sert_threaded-in_inserts_diecast.php

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DCH wrote:

| I saw one in "the handplane book" that looked like something I
| could make myself...I found the cutters at highland hardware and
| with a little time I was able to make serviceable router
| plane....you can see it

www.bellsouthpwp.net/d/c/dchaynie/Tools/Planes/routerplane/a_shop_made
_router_plane.htm

Nice job! I like the eye bolt idea.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick around
> with bidding. I define inexpensive, in this context, as something
> between $20-$40.
>

At that price point you have little choice. Find someone that owns one.
Call every day to see if he is still alive. The day he dies, offer his
widow $20 for the plane. It would also be a nice touch to express your
condolences.

"todd" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane?

<snip>

>> I can also see building a wooden body myself and then buying the
>> cutter from some place. Any tips/plans/pictures for something like
>> this?

>It appears that Popular Mechanics has an article in the August 2005 entitled
>"$5 Router Plane". Perhaps you can look at it at your local library unless
>some kind soul here would scan the article for you.
>http://www.popularwoodworking.com/store/backissue.asp?issuedate=8/1/2005

I made one that looks very much like the one on the above cited page.
Main difference is that I put a little slant on the handles, to fit my
hand correctly when in use, putting some downward pressure on the
plane. Pretty easy to make. And the cutter is just a large allen
wrench ground to an edge. Probably not worth squat for edge holding,
but it takes a good enough edge for this tool, which is NOT creating a
show surface.
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Michael Faurot wrote:
>
>> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
>> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick around
>> with bidding.
>
> eBay. Look at the non-collectable #71s that close in the next hour and
> just bid generously. You won't buy one for an absolute bargain price
> but you'll still save on new. A #271 is even more useful (I love mine)
> but they're rare enough to not be commonplace.

I won't mention that Lie Nielsen has one for $75.

Robin, are you paying attention? :-)

"Father Haskell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> <snip>
> The Veritas 71 copy would plow through wood a lot easier, and the
> price really doesn't look that bad if it delivers on its promises.
>

Bite your tongue...that's no copy .....! :)

Cheers -

Rob

After that brilliant moment of inspired creativity I caught up on the
rest of this thread and saw the ECE Router Plane. Damn. If only I had
thunk it up sooner, I'd be a millionaire I tell 'ya!

J.

John wrote:
> A small wood block having a vertical V-groove in it, mounted to a 1/2
> inch thick "baseplate" (for lack of a better term) would do the job.
> Attach the cutter to the small grooved block with a U-bolt. Use wing
> nuts on the opposite side of the block for tightness.
>
> Might take a little imagination to make it a good looking item, though.
>
> Come to think of it, I fancy that you could make a cutter out of an old
> screwdriver, or an el-cheapo import chisel, or a used up jointer knife
> if you didn't want to use a nice looking store bought item in a shopmade
> gizmo like this.
>
> J.

"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick
> around with bidding. I define inexpensive, in this context, as
> something between $20-$40.
>
> See the links[1][2] below for the general type of plane I'm thinking
> of. $90 for something like this seems ludicrious to me. I can
> understand the higher prices for something like the Veritas/Lee
> Valley router plane[3] as that's got some engineering in it--but
> it's overkill for what I need it for.
>
> I can also see building a wooden body myself and then buying the
> cutter from some place. Any tips/plans/pictures for something like
> this?
>
> Thanks.
>
> [1]:
> http://www.amazon.com/St-James-Bay-Tool-Co-S27/dp/B0009E1YUM/sr=1-161/q
> id=1168809246/ref=sr_1_161/104-0464795-5690322?ie=UTF8&s=hi [2]:
> http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/products_id/2765
> [3]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=51&p=52609
>
The general advice is to buy the best you possibly can. Then you suffer
only once ...
--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick
> around with bidding. I define inexpensive, in this context, as
> something between $20-$40.
>
> See the links[1][2] below for the general type of plane I'm thinking
> of. $90 for something like this seems ludicrious to me. I can
> understand the higher prices for something like the Veritas/Lee
> Valley router plane[3] as that's got some engineering in it--but
> it's overkill for what I need it for.
>
> I can also see building a wooden body myself and then buying the
> cutter from some place. Any tips/plans/pictures for something like
> this?
>
> Thanks.
>
> [1]:
> http://www.amazon.com/St-James-Bay-Tool-Co-S27/dp/B0009E1YUM/sr=1-161/q
> id=1168809246/ref=sr_1_161/104-0464795-5690322?ie=UTF8&s=hi [2]:
> http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/products_id/2765
> [3]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=51&p=52609
>

Greetings....

I saw one in "the handplane book" that looked like something I could make
myself...I found the cutters at highland hardware and with a little time I
was able to make serviceable router plane....you can see it
<a
href="http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/c/dchaynie/Tools/Planes/routerplane/a_shop_
made_router_plane.htm">here< /a>

hope this helps....

DCH

"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> DCH <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I saw one in "the handplane book" that looked like something I could
>> make myself...I found the cutters at highland hardware and with a
>> little time I was able to make serviceable router plane....you can
>> see it <a
>>
href="http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/c/dchaynie/Tools/Planes/routerplane/a_
>> shop_ made_router_plane.htm">here< /a>
>> hope this helps....
>
> That's interesting how you used an eye-bolt to hold the cutter.
> Since these things are so easy to make, I may have to make another
> router plane with a similar holding system and a larger/wider
> pre-made cutter.
>
> Thanks for the tip.
>

The cutters are the same as the Stanley....it was the the easiest plane
I made so far it only took an afternoon to do....

If you can I would like to see more of your allen wrench/thumbscrew
setup....

Regards

DCH

"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick around
> with bidding.

That's a shame, because there appear to be some good deals to be had. But,
it's your peroggative to spend more, if you like.

>I define inexpensive, in this context, as something between $20-$40.
>
> See the links[1][2] below for the general type of plane I'm thinking
> of. $90 for something like this seems ludicrious to me. I can
> understand the higher prices for something like the Veritas/Lee
> Valley router plane[3] as that's got some engineering in it--but
> it's overkill for what I need it for.
>
> I can also see building a wooden body myself and then buying the
> cutter from some place. Any tips/plans/pictures for something like
> this?
>
> Thanks.
>
> [1]:
> http://www.amazon.com/St-James-Bay-Tool-Co-S27/dp/B0009E1YUM/sr=1-161/qid=1168809246/ref=sr_1_161/104-0464795-5690322?ie=UTF8&s=hi
> [2]:
> http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/products_id/2765
> [3]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=51&p=52609

It appears that Popular Mechanics has an article in the August 2005 entitled
"$5 Router Plane". Perhaps you can look at it at your local library unless
some kind soul here would scan the article for you.
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/store/backissue.asp?issuedate=8/1/2005

Then again, there's always craigslist. No bidding there.

todd

todd <[email protected]> wrote:

> It appears that Popular Mechanics has an article in the August 2005 entitled
> "$5 Router Plane". Perhaps you can look at it at your local library unless
> some kind soul here would scan the article for you.
> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/store/backissue.asp?issuedate=8/1/2005


Thanks for the tip. Looking at the picture on that page, it looks
like the one they made is similar to the ECE router plane[1]. Between
those pictures, that's all I need.

Thanks.

[1]: http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/browseproducts/ECE-Router-Plane.HTML

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John <[email protected]> wrote:
> A small wood block having a vertical V-groove in it, mounted to a 1/2
> inch thick "baseplate" (for lack of a better term) would do the job.
> Attach the cutter to the small grooved block with a U-bolt. Use wing
> nuts on the opposite side of the block for tightness.

I wound up using an allen wrench with a thumb screw to hold my cutter
in place. Using an allen wrench solved the problem of how to get a
bend in the metal without mucking it up (I'm not a metal worker). To
get an edge on it I was able to shape the bulk of it with an angle
grinder, then a bit with a hand file and then some honing with 800G
sand paper.

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John <[email protected]> wrote:
> Buy the replacement cutters from Lee Valley and then check out

I may wind up doing that, as the price for a single cutter is
reasonable. I'm not thrilled with the way the shaft
of the cutter is machined. With that diamond shape, it means I'd need
to either make a square hole for the thing to sit in, or try and run a
set screw at an angle to the body to hit a flat surface on that shaft.
I'd rather deal with a basically round shaft that has one flat face to
run a set screw into.

> http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/Galoots/fSronce/myTools/routers/index.asp
> and give your imagination free rein.

Thanks for the tip, that does give me some good ideas.

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DCH <[email protected]> wrote:

> I saw one in "the handplane book" that looked like something I could make
> myself...I found the cutters at highland hardware and with a little time I
> was able to make serviceable router plane....you can see it
> <a
> href="http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/c/dchaynie/Tools/Planes/routerplane/a_shop_
> made_router_plane.htm">here< /a>
> hope this helps....

That's interesting how you used an eye-bolt to hold the cutter.
Since these things are so easy to make, I may have to make another
router plane with a similar holding system and a larger/wider
pre-made cutter.

Thanks for the tip.

--

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remove ".invalid".

Han <[email protected]> wrote:

> The general advice is to buy the best you possibly can. Then you suffer
> only once ...

Perhaps when dealing with complex or precision machinery--I just
don't (literally) buy that for this particular tool. If we're
talking about the Lee Vally/Veritas router plane--yeah, I can see
that and it looks to be well engineered--but that's more tool than
I need. I need something more like the Stanley #271--and that just
isn't complex enough to justify prices over $40 in my opinion.

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alexy <[email protected]> wrote:

> I made one that looks very much like the one on the above cited page.
> Main difference is that I put a little slant on the handles, to fit my
> hand correctly when in use, putting some downward pressure on the
> plane.

I'm thinking I'll do something a little different and maybe put some
knobs/handles on mine so it'll be sort of like a #71.

> Pretty easy to make. And the cutter is just a large allen
> wrench ground to an edge. Probably not worth squat for edge holding,
> but it takes a good enough edge for this tool, which is NOT creating a
> show surface.

Thanks for the tip on what to make the cutter out of. Looks like I'll
be able to make one of these for less than $5.

Thanks!

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Father Haskell <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have a Stanley 271 (the smaller plane). Nothing beats it for paring
> a dado to exact depth. Only prob is since it's finger powered, you
> can't easily take more than an index card's thickness in one pass.

This is what I'll use it for. The great bulk of the wood will be
hogged out with chisels first. Once most of the wood is out of the
dado, I just need the router for a final pass or two, to make sure
the depth of the dado is reasonably uniform.

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In article <[email protected]>,
"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote:

> The complete and working plane can be seen here:
>
> http://wood.atww.net/main.php/v/RouterPlane/
>

Nice.

Next time you make one, make the front of the blade's hole a 60* notch.
Then you can use smaller Allen blades for narrower cuts.

Does the thumbscrew go into a Tee nut or a mortised hex nut?

If you blued the blade during grinding, it's a snap to re-harden.

--
"Keep your ass behind you."

DCH <[email protected]> wrote:

> If you can I would like to see more of your allen wrench/thumbscrew
> setup....

Sure. I'm not much of a photographer, but you can see some more shots
of the cutter here:

http://wood.atww.net/main.php/v/RouterPlaneCutter/

Several things about this, that may not be visible in the pictures:

o) I ground off the sides of the bottom of the cutter to change
it from a hexagonal shape to more of a square/rectangle. Thus making
it possible to get right up next to the walls of a dado.

o) I also ground the very bottom of the cutter to form a sort of
bevel on the bottom. I removed more material towards the bend than at
the front. By doing this it helps the cutting edge connect with the
wood, instead of riding on the bottom.

o) To further improve the angle of attack of the cutting edge, I
also had to bend it a bit so as to increase the angle from 90 degrees
to a bit more like 95-100 degrees.

o) For the thumb screw, with machine threads, to work, an insert
was used. The insert has threads on its outside, and once screwed
into the wood, is very solid. I got these at Home Depot.

I wound up using this router plane a lot yesterday to make a base
for a sharpening stone. In particular to remove the material where
the stone will sit in the wood. After getting the initial area
defined with chisels, the router plane was used to smooth and even
out the bottom. It took awhile to get the hang of how to use it,
but once I had that figured out, along with a bit of fine tuning
on the angle of attack for the cutter, it worked very well. It also
provides a good workout for your forearms and biceps. :)

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Buy the replacement cutters from Lee Valley and then check out

http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/Galoots/fSronce/myTools/routers/index.asp

and give your imagination free rein.

J.


Michael Faurot wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a source for an inexpensive router plane? Please
> don't bother mentioning e-bay--I want to buy something, not dick around
> with bidding. I define inexpensive, in this context, as something
> between $20-$40.
>
> See the links[1][2] below for the general type of plane I'm thinking
> of. $90 for something like this seems ludicrious to me. I can
> understand the higher prices for something like the Veritas/Lee
> Valley router plane[3] as that's got some engineering in it--but
> it's overkill for what I need it for.
>
> I can also see building a wooden body myself and then buying the
> cutter from some place. Any tips/plans/pictures for something like
> this?
>
> Thanks.
>
> [1]: http://www.amazon.com/St-James-Bay-Tool-Co-S27/dp/B0009E1YUM/sr=1-161/qid=1168809246/ref=sr_1_161/104-0464795-5690322?ie=UTF8&s=hi
> [2]: http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/products_id/2765
> [3]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=51&p=52609
>

alexy <[email protected]> wrote:

> I made one that looks very much like the one on the above cited page.
> Main difference is that I put a little slant on the handles, to fit my
> hand correctly when in use, putting some downward pressure on the
> plane. Pretty easy to make. And the cutter is just a large allen
> wrench ground to an edge. Probably not worth squat for edge holding,
> but it takes a good enough edge for this tool, which is NOT creating a
> show surface.

Thanks again for the tip on using an allen wrench for the cutter.
That was the tipping point for me to figuring out how to put one of
these critters together.

After gathering a few parts, I was able to build my own router plane
this afternoon. All together I had to put just a bit under $5 in
parts to make it happen. I all ready had the wood (hard maple) and
some wood screws. I had to get a 1/4" allen wrench, threaded wood
insert, thumb screw and two wooden knobs.

The complete and working plane can be seen here:

http://wood.atww.net/main.php/v/RouterPlane/

Most of the time needed to get it working was with tuning the cutter
to work the way I wanted it to. With that out of the way, I've
used it to smooth the bottoms of a couple dados and it works just
fine.

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A small wood block having a vertical V-groove in it, mounted to a 1/2
inch thick "baseplate" (for lack of a better term) would do the job.
Attach the cutter to the small grooved block with a U-bolt. Use wing
nuts on the opposite side of the block for tightness.

Might take a little imagination to make it a good looking item, though.

Come to think of it, I fancy that you could make a cutter out of an old
screwdriver, or an el-cheapo import chisel, or a used up jointer knife
if you didn't want to use a nice looking store bought item in a shopmade
gizmo like this.

J.

Michael Faurot wrote:
> John <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Buy the replacement cutters from Lee Valley and then check out
>
> I may wind up doing that, as the price for a single cutter is
> reasonable. I'm not thrilled with the way the shaft
> of the cutter is machined. With that diamond shape, it means I'd need
> to either make a square hole for the thing to sit in, or try and run a
> set screw at an angle to the body to hit a flat surface on that shaft.
> I'd rather deal with a basically round shaft that has one flat face to
> run a set screw into.
>
>> http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/Galoots/fSronce/myTools/routers/index.asp
>> and give your imagination free rein.
>
> Thanks for the tip, that does give me some good ideas.
>