Hey everyone! I've recently gotten into hand tools and have been enjoying restoring a vintage metal #4 plane. After watching some great videos from Paul Sellers and Rex Kruger, I'm eager to make my own wooden fore plane for my woodshop class. I'm hoping to create something traditional, using mostly hand tools, but I'm struggling to find specific plans or even basic dimensions for a fore plane. I want to avoid laminated or Krenov styles and just chop a mortise into a solid piece of wood. Also, I'm unsure about where to get a quality blade; I found one from Lee Valley, but it's a bit pricey at $45. I know this might be an ambitious project for a beginner, but I'm excited to learn through this process. I'd appreciate any guidance or resources you might have!
1 Answer
Check out Richard Maguire's site, The English Woodworker. He has excellent instructional videos for building a wooden plane. His plans can be adapted for different sizes, and although he focuses on making a jack plane, a few adjustments in size and width can easily turn it into a fore plane. Plus, the instructions are free!
Yeah, if you're new to woodworking, Richard's resources are really solid. He comes from a furniture-making background and has transitioned into teaching through videos. His plane-making course is top-notch, and even if some of his content is paid, a free account lets you access quite a bit!