Hey Will, That's a slow-pitch league question; just get two of each! If finances don't permit that, you'll have to settle for one of each, I guess.... Seriously, looks like you have some good candidates. Except for the curved palm plane, that is. I think that the traditional saw kerf method would be much more precise, if I properly understand your intended curved plane use in setting bearing. When you cut saw kerfs and then plane down to them, you can see the kerf line very clearly as you approach it, and stop just as it is on the verge of disappearing (especially if you blacken it with a mechanical pencil lead or plate flange fitting chalk or something once you are fairly close) . With a broadly curved planed rebate, I think it would be very hard to locate the exact center/bottom as you planed down the rest of the cap. It might also be difficult to ensure that your thread is traveling through the exact center of your planed rebate, and that the thread travels in exactly the same path each time you stretch it through to assess your progress in reaching the proper bearing. Maybe I'm missing something or misunderstanding you, though. I have not had much success with wooden miniature planes (though I haven't tried a Lee valley one). It seems to me that the mass of the body contributes to a smooth cut and reduces chatter. Personally, I'd go for heavy. With wooden miniature planes, small size and the comparatively light weight of wood are two strikes, and perhaps my planing technique supplies the final swing-and-a-miss. However, it is certainly possible (or even likely) that others who possess better planing technique and more experience have more success with them. I do believe that excellent sharpening is an absolute imperative, perhaps even more so with smaller and lighter planes. One other item you may want to think about is the Lee Valley Chisel plane (you supply the chisel; http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32661&cat=1,230,41182,41192) , which I don't have but have been intrigued by for some time. You can cut to within about 1" of an obstruction like a rim. I think, but am not sure, that someone else sells a body into which you affix your own chisel, except without the bullnose front protrusion (which would let you plane even closer). I can't dig up the link, unfortunately, if it indeed exists. Here's an alternate line of thought, which may or may not interest you: I'm all for spending whatever it takes to get a quality tool. However, since a chisel plane is such a simple device, this is one of very few areas in which you could probably get away with buying a cheap one and investing some time in tuning it (even HF sells some). Unless you go with Lie-Nielsen or Lee Valley, you'll have to spend some plane-tuning time anyway. Or, you could even make your own. Here's a video: http://www.mattswoodshop.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=383482 . I should mention that the guy in the video has horribly unsafe table saw habits, so please don't emulate! Fine Woodworking has the plans on their website if you happen to be interested. Garage sales can yield some wondrous treasures, as well. Whichever one(s) you get, please let the list how it (they) are working out for you. A similar item is on my GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) list as well. Joe DeFazio Pittsburgh > > From: "William Truitt" <surfdog at metrocast.net> > Date: July 4, 2009 5:54:16 PM EDT > To: <pianotech at ptg.org> > Subject: [pianotech] Chisel Planes and Tool Junkies > Reply-To: pianotech at ptg.org > > > To the list: > > Since I started installing soundboards in my shop, I have been > slowing upgrading and adding to my tools. I am finding that to be a > bottomless pit to drop my sheckels into. There’s always the Next > Great Tool. Indeed, it is the perfect occupation for the > incorrigible tool junkie. Since I started using Jude Reveley as a > supplier, I have visited his shop with some regularity, always > experiencing some measure of Tool Lust when I am there. Jude’s a > Tool Junkie, one of the worst I’ve seen. He’s in denial, though - > he doesn’t think he has a problem, and won’t go into rehab. I don’t > know if it’s affecting his family income, but the other day I saw a > couple of shivering waifs who look a lot like him selling matches on > the street . > > J (Your turn, Jude!) > > Anyway, I am now looking to purchase a chisel plane or a tool that > will accomplish the same sort of tasks. Since I set bearing on the > bridges with the board glued in, this means that I have to work > around the closeness of the rim in the low bass and high treble. I > know that piano makers use chisel planes for such tasks, so I am > researching them with the intent of purchasing something to use on > my present project. > > Lie-Nielsen bronze 6 ½” chisel plane for $140.00 (part no. 07024) http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=07O24&FamilyID=555 > $ > 140.00 > > Kunz Bullnose plane #75 #581-0075 http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/default.php/cPath/2_568 > $ > 34.95 > > Stop Rabbet (Chisel) Plane by E.C. Emmerich #535-5858 http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/products_id/1719 > $ > 54.95 > > > > Other tools to look at are a miniature chisel plane (07P15.05) , at http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=50232&cat=1,41182 > $ > 19.50 > > Curved palm plane, at http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=57205&cat=1,41182 > $ > 52.50 > > Veritas Bullnose plane, at http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=49709&cat=1,41182,48945 > $ > 175.00 > > No. 90 Bullnose Rabbet Plane by Stanley UK 265-112090 http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/cPath/2_568/products_id/3319 > $89.95 > > > <image002.png> > > These are some the tools I am considering. The Lie-Nielsen and > Veritas tools are Cadillac tools. I am particularly attracted to > the E. C. Emmerich stop rabbet plane because it looks like it would > fit very nicely into your hand, has a good blade (61 on the Rockwell > C scale), and is priced decently at $54.95 > > I included the curved palm plane on the list because it might be a > good tool to scoop the bridge out to set bearing. > > If anyone on the list has experience with any of these tools, I’d > love to hear it. Or if you have something that does the task > better, I’d love to hear about it too. > > Will Truitt > > > > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech mailing list > pianotech at ptg.org > http://ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/pianotech -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20090705/e4697e39/attachment-0001.htm>
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