Woodies don't get used

[ken hatch]

I was thinking maybe Sapele but I didn't think it was hard enough for planes. After a quick Janka search it looks like it's about twice as hard as Honduras and African Mahogany which are pretty low on the scale. How are they holding up? Oh, and where did you buy the stock?

Richard,

They hold up just fine. The stock came from my local woodstore. I guess if this was a production shop and I used them for most operations they might wear. But they are specialized planes used mostly for finish trimming, breaking edges and such.

I have others made from Beech that also work well and I expect would last longer under heavy use.

ken

[Rafael Herrera]

Richard,

European Beech billets for plane making can be found at https://redrosereproductions.com/ and at https://inventory.horizonwood.com/pr...litches-391631

If you are into more exotic woods, if you perform a search on eBay with terms like "3x3 turning blank", you'll find several examples of East Indian Rosewood and other species for sale.

[Mike Brady]

This is an interesting theme from the OP. My experience with wood planes is limited, to be frank. The reason for this is that my access to wood-bodied planes has been limited. Old ones that I tried were almost non-functional. Newly-made ones such as the fantastic Clark & Williams versions were a bit dear in both price and availability at the time. Meanwhile, I invested in the best metal planes I could afford. Somewhere along the line I was gifted a wooden plane kit from Veritas. The finished product was something I was very satisfied with in terms of conformity to the design. I made it from some lovely air-dried beech. It wouldn't plane wood worth a damn.

I use metal planes.

[Richard Hutchings]

Richard,

European Beech billets for plane making can be found at https://redrosereproductions.com/ and at https://inventory.horizonwood.com/pr...litches-391631

If you are into more exotic woods, if you perform a search on eBay with terms like "3x3 turning blank", you'll find several examples of East Indian Rosewood and other species for sale.

Thanks for those links. That was very helpful.

[Michael J Evans]

I love my wood bench planes. They glide across the wood. Dead simple to re flatten (sand paper on something flat) and I actually Prefer the way my front hand sits versus a knob.

[Charles Murray Ohio]

I might have missed something, but their are very metal molding planes with a sole. The sole not only burnishes (think rubbing shavings to polish) but also will help in tear out. Their are time that I use a 45 or 55 (no sole) how ever if I have the choice of using a wooden molding plane it's much quicker.

[steven c newman]

Seen down in West Liberty, OH......
West Liberty, high priced jacks.JPG
Both of these jacks were $27....don't ask about that block plane..
West Liberty, Woodies and such.JPG
Stanley #4, t-19.....
Too much missing in the plough/fillister plane...