Hand tools are back in vogue. Woodworkers are rediscovering the joys of using hand tools and the quality of work that can be done with good hand tools. Hollows and rounds form the basic kit of molding planes. Making a set is easily the least expensive way for you to acquire wooden planes in a condition and quality needed for use. This video is the first in what will be a series on making classic wooden planes. Host Tod Herrli leads you though all the steps required to make a #14 hollow and companion round. He starts showing how to glue up beech to get a stable block to work with, then how to lay out the plane and cut the mortise for the wedge and the profile for the iron. Then he goes on to show how to grind, harden and temper the steel for the iron. Once the hollow is made, it is used to create the profile for the round. The theory here is that once you understand how a basic hollow and round is made, you can make an entire set.
Mr. Herrli is obviously an experienced teacher. His delivery is smooth, and he speaks clearly and concisely as he explains each step in detail. The overall quality of the video is excellent with good photography that backs away to show Mr. Herrli working and zooms in to show important details of layout and alignment.
I have a few quibbles with the DVD - I strenuously object to Mr. Herrli's use of a folding rule as a push stick , which is inherently dangerous and should never be done - but overall, seeing him make a working plane is both instructive and inspiring.
The tools required for planemaking are pretty simple and most shops will have the equipment. The only tool that you may have to scrounge for are the torches used for hardening the steel iron. Two specialized planemaking floats are also used and Mr. Herrli devotes a section of the DVD to making these important tools. A PDF file is included on the DVD with measured drawings of the planes, irons and the floats mentioned in the DVD. DVD format. 90 minutes long.