Category Archives: Tools

Carving Tools

Posted on 23rd March 2018 by Jack Plane

You rarely hear me banging on about tools, but Christopher Storb posted this excellent article about some London carving tools and their history on his blog yesterday. Jack Plane

Posted in Tools | Tagged | 1 Comment

Stretching the Truth

Posted on 23rd February 2016 by Jack Plane

I recently bought a new dressmaker’s tape measure to accurately determine the dimensions of a multifariously curved item of furniture that I have designs on. It appears that some nations have as much trouble grasping the antiquated imperial system of … Continue reading →

Posted in Distractions, Tools | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Picture This XXXII

Posted on 28th August 2014 by Jack Plane

“Yes…I’ll have a pound of glue please, and one of your finest four-foot long, 3-1/2″ wide London-pattern in-cannel gouges.” Lot 166 in Christie’s Out of The Ordinary Sale (South Kensington, London, on the 3rd of September, 2014) is this rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Auction Alerts, Picture This, Tools | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Ringing in the New Year

Posted on 31st December 2013 by Jack Plane

There are still a couple of brass founders in existence that reproduce faithful seventeenth- and eighteenth-century style furniture brasses for discerning furniture makers and restorers. Their voluminous and diverse inventories are to be commended. Iron nails, locks and whitesmiths’ goods, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabinet Fittings, Tools | 6 Comments

Preparing Groundwork for Veneering

Posted on 1st September 2012 by Jack Plane

I have been asked recently what tool I use to prepare groundwork for veneering. It is generally good practice to tooth glue faces for improved adhesion of veneer and mouldings etc. (when using horse sauce), but I am hesitant to … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Making Mouldings from Scratch

Posted on 21st January 2011 by Jack Plane

Making mouldings doesn’t really require a write-up does it? You simply drag out a two horse power, electron-burning, two-handled aluminium and plastic behemoth, install the appropriate sized/shaped router bit, don a pair of safety glasses and ear muffs and begin … Continue reading →

Posted in Techniques, Tools | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Going Cordless

Posted on 23rd June 2010 by Jack Plane

A while ago, I purchased a DeWalt random orbital sander on-line. It had a power cord like a length of mangled rebar. Even in the 40° C (104° F) heat of summer, the cord was so stiff that it interfered … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sharpening a Moulding Plane

Posted on 1st April 2010 by Jack Plane

A used, typically blunt moulding plane. A young neighbour dropped in the other afternoon with an antique 1/2in. side-bead moulding plane. He’d just bought it for some purpose and was keen to get on with it. I knew there was … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Shocking Pink

Posted on 14th February 2010 by Jack Plane

Q. What’s hard and pink and sticks out of your pyjamas in the morning? A. Your head, of course. . Q. What’s soft and pink and protects your fingers? A. This stuff:. Adhesive-free, self-adhering bandage. One of our dogs went … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Inching Forwards

Posted on 12th January 2010 by Jack Plane

My very early education in Northern Ireland taught me the use and application of the Imperial system of measurement and I recall at the time, the huge sense of accomplishment upon grasping the concept of inches accumulating into feet in … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments