I'm looking to craft a wooden smoothing plane that includes a depth adjustment feature similar to what's found in metal-bodied planes. I find setting the depth on traditional wooden planes quite tedious, and I prefer to avoid metal versions that require lubrication and are prone to rust. Plus, I'm having difficulty finding used ones, and new Stanley No. 4 planes are priced at over $50. I don't need a lateral adjuster since I can easily set that with a hammer. Can anyone share advice on how to achieve this or suggest a mechanism, like using a bolt in a groove similar to a chipbreaker groove? Also, are there any good resources like books or videos that can help me with this project?
3 Answers
There are a few different routes you can take, varying in complexity:
1. You could use one of the Veritas plane kits which are pretty straightforward.
2. Another option is to repurpose the frog from an old plane, which can save you some time.
3. If you're up for a challenge, check out this guy's project where he completely built his own block plane. His detailed guide is awesome! [Link to project](https://www.cgtk.co.uk/woodwork/handtools/toolchest_blockplane/blog/page1)
Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely check those out.
You might want to explore inspiration from E.C.E. planes; they have some interesting designs. Here's a link to their operating instructions PDF for reference: [E.C.E Primus Plane PDF](https://ecemmerich.de/wp-content/uploads/Operating-Instructions-for-the-E.C.E-PRIMUS-Plane-english.pdf)
Have you considered looking into a Stanley transitional plane? It might be a good option if you're not dead set on making one from scratch. It's a mix of wooden and metal features that might suit your needs without the hassle of complete metal maintenance.
I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm really keen on making my own. I enjoy the process of building things, and I’d rather not deal with the complexity of a lever cap.
I came here to suggest those Veritas kits too! They seem like the best fit for your situation.