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Thread: Compass Plane

  1. #1
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    Compass Plane

    Amongst many projects I'm making a rocking horse on bow rockers and would like to track down a compass (or circular) hand plane.

    I found a Stanley #113 some years back but it's incomplete, the knob that controls the curvature of the base is missing. It has a LH thread on the outside and a RH thread internally. To add to the pain the cast section it screws into has been broken and bronze welded so the thread may need cleaning up which means determining the thread and organsing a LH tap. Mine is also missing the palm rest behind the blade.



    I found a knob on Ebay which after adding freight etc. comes to over $60. I'm just trying to convince myself that a $60 knob is worthwhile especially as the thread may still need re-tapping.

    The outside of the curve I can probably do with a conventional hand plane, the inside with spokeshaves. Neither will be easy to get an even curve.

    Any other ideas how to finish plane a large curved piece of timber ?

    Colin
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    I have a friend who is an absolute first class cabinet maker. I don't mean he builds kitchens, he had a piece in the National Gallery. He's in Avonsleigh. I'll run it past him, but he's usually pretty busy so don't hold your breath. But he'll know what you want.
    ​JayTee

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    Quote Originally Posted by gromit View Post
    Amongst many projects I'm making a rocking horse on bow rockers and would like to track down a compass (or circular) hand plane.

    I found a Stanley #113 some years back but it's incomplete, the knob that controls the curvature of the base is missing. It has a LH thread on the outside and a RH thread internally. To add to the pain the cast section it screws into has been broken and bronze welded so the thread may need cleaning up which means determining the thread and organsing a LH tap. Mine is also missing the palm rest behind the blade.



    I found a knob on Ebay which after adding freight etc. comes to over $60. I'm just trying to convince myself that a $60 knob is worthwhile especially as the thread may still need re-tapping.

    The outside of the curve I can probably do with a conventional hand plane, the inside with spokeshaves. Neither will be easy to get an even curve.

    Any other ideas how to finish plane a large curved piece of timber ?

    Colin
    Make one......

    Compass planes

    Don.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tins View Post
    I have a friend who is an absolute first class cabinet maker. I don't mean he builds kitchens, he had a piece in the National Gallery. He's in Avonsleigh. I'll run it past him, but he's usually pretty busy so don't hold your breath. But he'll know what you want.
    Thanks.

    Quote Originally Posted by Don 130 View Post
    Make one......

    Compass planes

    Don.
    Those in the link are fixed radius, the one I have is adjustable concave/convex.

    I may have to make an adjustment knob, just need to work out the LH thread. Alternatively I bite the bullet and pay $60 for the secondhand knob and hope that the thread in the repaired section is OK.


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

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    Quote Originally Posted by gromit View Post
    Amongst many projects I'm making a rocking horse on bow rockers and would like to track down a compass (or circular) hand plane.

    Any other ideas how to finish plane a large curved piece of timber ?

    Colin
    Use a router on the end of a radius arm. Radius arm can be made of ply, etc.

    Screw the centre end of the radius arm and the work piece onto a sheet of chipboard. Perfect result inside and out.

    Always use care using routers.

    DL

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    Quote Originally Posted by 350RRC View Post
    Use a router on the end of a radius arm. Radius arm can be made of ply, etc.

    Screw the centre end of the radius arm and the work piece onto a sheet of chipboard. Perfect result inside and out.

    Always use care using routers.

    DL
    Big diameter so I'd need a very big workbench.

    I'd prefer to use hand tools, the basic shape of each rocker is from two pieces cut on a bandsaw.
    I'll post a picture of one I made some years back, I remember struggling to get the curve smooth. Just to complicate things the bottom of the rockers isn't square to the sides along the whole length because the rockers sit at an angle.

    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by gromit View Post
    Big diameter so I'd need a very big workbench.

    I'd prefer to use hand tools, the basic shape of each rocker is from two pieces cut on a bandsaw.
    I'll post a picture of one I made some years back, I remember struggling to get the curve smooth. Just to complicate things the bottom of the rockers isn't square to the sides along the whole length because the rockers sit at an angle.

    Colin
    Chip board is common at 2400 ish long, that's a big radius. Do it on the floor.

  8. #8
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    A friend makes the chairs shown. I'll ask him how he does the curves. He trained as an antique restorer in the UKAttachment 168779and if you look at that wooden compass plane again, you'll see it is adjustable, but not in the same way as a metal one.
    Don.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Don 130 View Post
    AAttachment 168779and if you look at that wooden compass plane again, you'll see it is adjustable, but not in the same way as a metal one.
    Don.
    Concave yes, convex no.

    Also making a curved sole plane is a bit of a Catch 22. How do you make the curved base ?

    Last time I managed with a conventional plane on the convex and a curved sole spokeshave on the concave plus lots of checking & fine tuning. I really don't have time to get into plane making and I cannot justify over $60 for the adjustment knob for my Stanley 113 so I guess I'll use the same method.

    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  10. #10
    Lionelgee is offline YarnMaster Silver Subscriber
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    Compass #113 Stanley

    Hello Colin,

    I was interested in finding out how to use a compass plane and I found this clip on YouTube. In preparation to use the compass plane the person uses a saw and then a chisel to remove the bulk of material. Then he uses a round spokeshave which can be used instead of a compass plane. The presenter describes using the saw and chisel technique prior to using a compass plane. Accessed 17th February 2021 from, How to Use a Compass Plane Stanley 113 - YouTube

    I was also surprised how many of the Stanley Compass planes are available in America via eBay - and parts. On eBay I typed in "Stanley No. 11"

    They are quite an impressive looking piece of kit; made when art and craft were equally important.

    Kind regards
    Lionel

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