Spice rack with dovetail housing

I decided to use a piece of cherry I was given last year to make a small spice rack. The piece still has some bark on, which I will leave to give it character.

• First, plane square, then draw design taking into account the feature for aesthetics, and a knot I need to place carefully. I decided to use dovetail housing joints as they are in my opinion far superior to plane rebates. Also to test myself, as the shoulders are only 2mm!

• Draw out full sized rod.
• Cut components.

• Cut the scrolled detail with fine kerf scroll saw.

• Cut the rebate for the back panel. 

• Cut the dovetails on the shelves.

• Transfer to the sides, and cut the housing.

• Dry run assembly, then sand all components, glue up, and fit.

• Scribe in back panel, cut detail with fine kerf scroll saw, final sand, skew pin in back panel, and oil.

Toy bi- plane

Making wooden toys is one of my favourite things. Here I will show you how to make a bi-plane;

• Draw out your design as a full sized rod. This enables you to check each component against it, and helps to avoid unpleasant surprises, enabling you to work out all steps of the production.
• Firstly choose your stock carefully, considering grain direction, colour of materials, etc.
• Mark out and cut your components as per rod;

• Start assembling, consider the stages so as not to make things difficult for yourself. Also sand all components before assembly.

• N.B. Cup of tea...essential!

• Finish with a coat of oil, after final sanding.

Double ended moulded beading/ rebate plane

In days gone by when a specific job needed a specific plane, a carpenter would make the tool for the job. I sometimes decide to do this for a project I am working on, just for fun!

• Assess the job, and then make a rod (full size plan) of the plane. You can use your experience, and other planes that you own to determine angles of blade set. Or ask someone with more experience! Things to consider; size of iron, depth of cut required, grain/ size of stock to be worked, detail desired (you can grind your iron to a moulding profile)...etc.
• Choose your stock, I used an nice piece of spalted maple off cut from another job.

                                   

• The plane I will be making here is very simple, and made from components glued and screwed together. 
• Cut your components to your rod, plane level and square. 
• Start with the back plate.
• Mark out your blade rebate using your iron and cut with gouge.

• Cut your central spacers, accuracy is paramount to ensure iron will lie square and level.

• Cut your wedge.

• Cut your front plate, dry run assembly.
• Glue and clamp up back plate to spacers. Front stop plate to be removable, to allow for adjustment for future jobs.

• Assemble, and fine tune,....job done!