(Very) Early Access Video: The Transitional Plane
🕑 Added 2022-09-10 11:01:03 +0000 UTCFriends:
This video won't go live on YouTube for months, but you get it now!
James Wright organized a MASSIVE collaborative project with a bunch of creators you know and love. We're all working together to restore this transitional plane. My job is the body and it was a way bigger job than I thought.
Follow along as I recreate this factory part by hand!
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
John Shufelt
I love it! Great to see how you pivot and turn an apparent blunder into a style choice. The lamination looks great.
Austin V Papp
Rex, when you were shaping that rear concave curve it would have been an excellent time to use an in-cannel gouge. I’m fact, I think in-cannel gouges, and using them to pare concave curves could be an excellent video topic. People spend a lot of time talking about spoke shaves, but paring cross grain with a sharp in-cannel gouge can often be superior, and very efficient.
Jason Bailey
I love that your relationship with James started with you kinda making fun of how far he takes his his all-by-hand approach in one of your videos. He took that ribbing well and you two seem to really respect each other.
Rex Krueger
I THINK it will be a charity auction.
Rex Krueger
Quite well. I filmed it cutting, but I didn't show it b/c James deserves the big reveal.
Rex Krueger
I'll try!
Rex Krueger
Thank you!
Rex Krueger
There was plenty of struggle. For sure.
Rex Krueger
That's totally true, but it's also not what "transitional" means. This design doesn't mark the transition between wood and iron, it's Stanley's attempt to get users to transition to using the more modern metal planes. That's what makes it "transitional".
Nicholas Loy
I think it is very good you show how an "expert" can make dumb mistakes and then how you recover from the mistakes. And even, as Bob Ross used to say: "a mistake is a happy accident". I have an old plane almost exactly like the one you all are restoring except mine was made by Sargent. However I wished you would not call this plane a trasition plane. Bailey all metal planes predate these hybird planes.
A1BASE
I'd be so bad at this. Any minor gaps would drive me INSANE. I don't think your curved back fitup is absolutely perfect, but it looks fine and is perfectly functional. I would just struggle and struggle with it.
Jonathan Keeling
Thanks Rex! …and thank James, Uri, Eric, et al. Great content.
Stefan Blümke
Really great video - more of that!!!
Michael Bennett
Then I'll wait until the other videos come out and fix it up myself. I'll auction it off for Rob Cosman's Purple Heart Project or some other educational program. I promised the widow that profits would go to help woodworking students. Her husband was a high school shop teacher.
Fred Gosbee
It looks great! How does it cut?
Graham Dumas
That makes total sense. It's also a bit splotchy sometimes. Still, I love it. I've built a couple of live-edge pieces with some salvaged slabs, and am actually going to do a few pieces with that same walnut-strip look that you used here.
Rex Krueger
I think the final series of videos is going to be really special. We'll just have to be patient.
Rex Krueger
Thank you! I'm lucky that I had that wood in the scrap pile.
Rex Krueger
I would love to see that!
Rex Krueger
Thank you for saying so.
Rex Krueger
I appreciate that!
Rex Krueger
You'll have a new one this saturday! It's almost done.
Rex Krueger
I'm really glad you think so!
Rex Krueger
Thank you!
Rex Krueger
I think Sycamore has a bad reputation because the trees rot very easily. People see it as a junk wood and until modern drying and storage, it wasn't very useful. Most often, it was for utensils and I think some cooperage. Not a lot of furniture, but you do see it in furniture around here. It's always been cheap.
Rex Krueger
Thank you!
Rex Krueger
I think it's going to get auctioned off, so you might have a shot at it.
Rex Krueger
I'm glad that it was useful. A more "artistic" project for me and not as practical as I generally am.
Rex Krueger
James deserves the credit. It took a lot of vision to come with this and a lot of patience to see it through.
Rex Krueger
I bet it's great for that! Transitionals make really good planes for rough work.
Rex Krueger
It's funny how often the accident leads you to a better place. I try not to get too upset about these things and see the opportunities.
Rex Krueger
It's a fine wood, and pretty cheap around here. It's not used too much, but it's hard and stable.
Rex Krueger
It's funny, because I generally swear. Loudly. That was just what came out.
Rex Krueger
You shouldn't put quotes around "accidentally". Those mishaps are 100% real. But I take your point. I try not to get too upset about these problems because they often make the project better in the end.
Scott Forsyth
What’s the plan for the plane when it’s all done? Fun video- thanks
Rex Krueger
Honestly, I find selling my work to be more stress than it's worth. Making customers happy is harder than you'd think and I have plenty to worry about. I sold pieces for a few years and I just hated it.
Rex Krueger
I used to have one of those 4 1/2 size planes. I really liked it...but not enough to use it much.
Rex Krueger
You can say it all you want. I say it when I don't even mean to!
Rex Krueger
I'm glad you think so! I was quite frustrated at several points in this process.
Rex Krueger
Ha! I didn't even think of that!
Rex Krueger
Thank you! I was quite lucky to have the chunk just sitting around!
Rex Krueger
Yes, the larger shop is superior in every way, especially since I'm making videos. I don't miss the basement at all.
Rex Krueger
Sometimes, they offer the best value. They're pretty cheap and some of them are very nice.
Rex Krueger
You can always make a new body....but I don't recommend it!
Matt Evans-Koch
Beautiful work Rex. That is a beautiful tool. Thank you for sharing this video so early. And thanks to the other creators for participating in this build.
Matt Cottrill
Love that sycamore! Nice work Rex!
Michael Gross
That sycamore and walnut combination is stunning, as is your craftsmanship!! After I get done with my current projects (an art installation, custom bookcases that conform to a river-rock fireplace, and about 100 pens that replicate cigars) I would love to tackle a project like this one. By the way, I used your takedown workbench plans to customize a Harbor Freight workbench into a very nice job site tool (by adding significant mass and stability). Once I can get to it I’ll post pictures on the forum.
Russell Gough
Outstanding, Rex!
Blake Webber
Very impressive.
Jennessa Lynam
It came out absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing and letting us see it (very) early. Can't wait for more videos from you.
Edward Conway
Thanks for the sneak peek at a beautiful project! Your aesthetics are grand,, great job.
Brian Taylor
I'd say your contribution is outstanding!
Graham Dumas
I love sycamore so much. The figure just makes me smile. I never understand why it's not used more often in furniture. Great work!
John Hiemstra
Beautiful work!
Richard Fluharty
Daaaayummmmm....! Totally outstanding! Remember The Who, Magic Bus? I want it I want it I want I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it! 😂
Craig Thibodeaux
Really enjoyed this video. Quite a number of tricks and tips for a small block of wood.
Solia
"We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents." - Bob Ross The plane looks amazing so far and your part in it goes together amazingly well with the rest of the work done to the tool as of now. I can not wait to see the rest of the build series when the other creators have had a shot making this plane a glorious piece of history.
Sean O'Neill
Great job, Rex!! I had one of those #35’s and converted it into a scrub plane.
cliff whitefoot
Once more Rex Knocks it out of the park, I love the combination of woods & the “happy accident“ now looks like an intentional piece of finery. Beautiful job Rex, I may have try that myself with my next “accident” & call it a feature, rather than being another piece for the fire, it might even add a few shillings to the price.
Bill Brisky
I discovered sycamore a couple of months ago. Great choice for the body. The grain is wonderfully interesting.
Richard C von Brecht
The bit where your drill skipped out that’s not what I’d have said. I guess that’s another reason why I watch videos rather than make them.
Don Francis
It looks great. I always appreciate the way you show us how you "accidentally make the project more challenging" and how you set about making the necessary adjustments.
joseph severson
Wow that’s great! You did an excellent job. I really appreciate that you show how we all have these hiccups and with a little thought they can be overcome without a lot of stress. I really appreciate the information you all are willing to share with us. I was also wondering if you had ever thought of selling some of the shop made tools you build? I know I would be very excited to tell someone, “ yeah that’s a Rex Krueger plane”!
Michael Bennett
It looks great Rex. The walnut looks like it was part of the design all along. I still have that transitional version of the 4-1/2 if y'all want to do another one. I got about 6-8 transitionals I picked up in an estate purchase last summer. I really don't have a use for them. I bought the lot to get my hands on a set of Scioto Tool's wooden planes. Thanx for letting me in early to see the video.
Shane Thomas
Another great video Rex - and dare I say wahoo :-)
Robert A Carbo
That turned out really well. I like the use of contrasting woods.
Pierre-Olivier Fineltin
Can we call this a transitional video? Great job anyway!
Ray Owens
Love the appearance of the Sycamore and, of course, your skill.
Andrew Watt
A very cool project, Rex! And a beautiful final result. Any more thoughts on doing this in a basement vs doing it in a larger shop?
Gareth McMahon
Thanks, the sycamore looks fab. Never knew about transitional planes...
Marc Barash
Cool Tool, I wish my transitional plane looked so good. Great Work!!!