My new large chair-maker's plane with a tote next to the smaller plane I have used for years.

 

I have been working on and off again over the last three years to build a chair-maker's plane that has a handle. I have had lots of questions about whether a larger round-bottomed compass plane with a handle would work as well as the smaller one I am used to. I have made several prototype plane bodies and a raft of trial handles while playing with this idea. One after another the prototypes were winnowed down because of excess weight, clunkiness, or difficulty to produce. Handles were rejected for reasons of comfort. Finally I came up with the plane shown here. It is about the size of a Stanley #2 bench plane. The handle is held in the plane body using a sliding dovetail joint.

 

Everything felt good, but the proof is in the pudding. I ground a blade for the new plane and put it through it's paces over three days at the Common Ground Fair. Experience with the plane led me to add a knob for the left hand to grip when using the plane. In all other respects the new plane is both comfortable to use and fits all the curves in a seat saddle as well as the small plane. I will be working on a batch for sale soon. Look for more information about this plane to be added to the TOOLS page in the coming weeks. In the meantime questions are welcomed.

 

Thanks for stopping by. STB