Episode 6 - Can You Build a Molding Plane This Way?

I needed a molding plane for a very specific profile, but instead of building one in the traditional way, I decided to rip the main body into six separate sections, shape each one individually, and laminate them back together. From there, I added the sides, pin, fence, and the other parts needed to turn the assembly into an actual plane body. In this episode I build the plane body from start to finish—laying out the numbered profile, ripping and thicknessing the stock, shaping each section, making the sides and wedge opening, turning the wooden pin on an old metal lathe, fitting the fence, and finally gluing the whole thing together. The stock happens to be cherry simply because I had a piece large enough for the experiment. I’m not suggesting that cherry is necessarily the ideal wood for building a traditional molding plane. Along the way, I also managed to drill the pin slightly crooked. I could simply admit that I screwed it up, of course. But there are several much more sophisticated explanations for what happened. By the end, the laminated monstrosity actually looks like a molding plane. Whether it will actually work as one is another question entirely. Next comes the difficult part: making an iron that matches this profile. After that, I’ll sharpen it, tune the plane, make some test cuts, and—if this whole experiment actually works—use it to make the eight pieces of molding I need for the sunroom. Want to buy me a coffee? I'll give it away. Proceeds I receive through Buy Me a Coffee will be donated to Wounded Warrior Project in support of veterans and their families. buymeacoffee.com/dancinquaky #Woodworking #HandTools #MoldingPlane #TraditionalWoodworking #DancinQuakerFarms