Official Luthiers Forum!

I have always used chisels for the carving of braces and I have not started with a carved top instrument yet, but with all the planes out there, if I could only get a couple, what do you like for both jobs- braces and plates? I know the ibex are very good but brand, size, and flat or curved? What say you? Maybe budget-wise and also if cost didn't matter so much (even though it does). Thanks

I have an Ibex finger plane and, ever since I got one of Stephen Boone's planes, his is the only one I use. Of course, I'm just doing braces, not plates. Can't beat it.

+ 1 on the Stephen Boone Planes. Outstanding little planes.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I have a small Ibex I use for braces and plates and I like it. But to me it's a little too small except for special situations. I would try the bigger ones but already have the Lie Nielsen model planes both curved and flat which work good for braces and plates. Then my old Stanley adjustable mouth block plane works great for outsides of plates.

The curvature of the LN plane is a little flat for some areas, so at the suggestion of other forum members I made my own wooden block plane. It works very well and if I had more time I'd make more.

I find myself alternately using all the planes while carving depending on the arch of the area I'm working on.

Ray

Yeah, Stephen Boone's are the best, but I don't think he's making them anymore. But at least he documented the process in a video. I think there's a thread for it in the tutorial section. Someone needs to fill that void

Try this. I had one of his early ones, then bought a pair of the newer ones (smaller) early this year. They are really superb. http://www.studioboone.com/guitars/fingerplane.html

Newer ones on left.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I believe he still makes them.

http://studioboone.com/guitars/fingerplane.html

Kevin Looker

edit
Oops, didn't read Waddy's post, was too busy looking at the picture he posted.

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

yeah ... but he doesn´t ship internationally... sniff...

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

i actually have the LN model makers finger plane, but i just can´t help lusting for new planes... i actually do most of my profiling with a paring chisel these days. i have to try and find my pfeil double bevel chisel (gauge? - it´s somewhere around the shop) and try to bevel the struts with it.
i´ll also look for chris tuts on planes - thanks for pointing it out Todd.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

I mainly use old block planes but I have been really sick this last week and was so frustrated not being able to get down to the workshop that when I did sneak in an hour or so yesterday I ended up making my own little block plane that utilises my 1" chisel. It is made from left over off-cuts of Jarrah.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

+15 or whatever on the Boone planes. I use both the flat sole and curved sole. I use them in conjunction with chisels. The flat sole helps to finish the sides of braces after chiseling and leveling down the tops of flat braces. I use the curved sole to finish up the scallops after roughing out with a chisel.

I build my own, using old blades from a record multi plane or similar only cost a few pounds / dollars each on ebay.

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Nick

Follow my musings on getting started in luthiery http://www.tredwellinstruments.co.uk

I've got one of his early versions too. I like it a lot but I like the smaller size of the new ones and the thicker iron. Looks like it's time to upgrade.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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