(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
I love it! Great to see how you pivot and turn an apparent blunder into a style choice. The lamination looks great.
John Shufelt
2022-09-23 09:21:43 +0000 UTCRex, 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.
Austin V Papp
2022-09-21 23:19:37 +0000 UTCI 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.
Jason Bailey
2022-09-21 02:44:25 +0000 UTCI THINK it will be a charity auction.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-15 16:01:04 +0000 UTCQuite well. I filmed it cutting, but I didn't show it b/c James deserves the big reveal.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-15 16:00:40 +0000 UTCI'll try!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-15 15:59:21 +0000 UTCThank you!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-15 15:59:15 +0000 UTCThere was plenty of struggle. For sure.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-15 15:59:06 +0000 UTCThat'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".
Rex Krueger
2022-09-15 15:58:42 +0000 UTCI 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.
Nicholas Loy
2022-09-14 12:54:13 +0000 UTCI'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.
A1BASE
2022-09-13 20:54:37 +0000 UTCThanks Rex! …and thank James, Uri, Eric, et al. Great content.
Jonathan Keeling
2022-09-13 15:30:50 +0000 UTCReally great video - more of that!!!
Stefan Blümke
2022-09-13 14:09:13 +0000 UTCThen 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.
Michael Bennett
2022-09-12 23:02:41 +0000 UTCIt looks great! How does it cut?
Fred Gosbee
2022-09-12 20:54:59 +0000 UTCThat 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.
Graham Dumas
2022-09-12 17:08:50 +0000 UTCI think the final series of videos is going to be really special. We'll just have to be patient.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:53:45 +0000 UTCThank you! I'm lucky that I had that wood in the scrap pile.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:53:24 +0000 UTCI would love to see that!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:53:09 +0000 UTCThank you for saying so.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:52:50 +0000 UTCI appreciate that!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:52:43 +0000 UTCYou'll have a new one this saturday! It's almost done.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:52:37 +0000 UTCI'm really glad you think so!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:52:14 +0000 UTCThank you!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:52:00 +0000 UTCI 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
2022-09-12 15:51:52 +0000 UTCThank you!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:50:29 +0000 UTCI think it's going to get auctioned off, so you might have a shot at it.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:50:22 +0000 UTCI'm glad that it was useful. A more "artistic" project for me and not as practical as I generally am.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:49:59 +0000 UTCJames deserves the credit. It took a lot of vision to come with this and a lot of patience to see it through.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:49:19 +0000 UTCI bet it's great for that! Transitionals make really good planes for rough work.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:48:39 +0000 UTCIt'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
2022-09-12 15:48:17 +0000 UTCIt's a fine wood, and pretty cheap around here. It's not used too much, but it's hard and stable.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:47:43 +0000 UTCIt's funny, because I generally swear. Loudly. That was just what came out.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:47:17 +0000 UTCYou 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.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 15:46:49 +0000 UTCWhat’s the plan for the plane when it’s all done? Fun video- thanks
Scott Forsyth
2022-09-12 15:44:11 +0000 UTCHonestly, 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
2022-09-12 13:55:38 +0000 UTCI used to have one of those 4 1/2 size planes. I really liked it...but not enough to use it much.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:54:32 +0000 UTCYou can say it all you want. I say it when I don't even mean to!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:53:51 +0000 UTCI'm glad you think so! I was quite frustrated at several points in this process.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:53:35 +0000 UTCHa! I didn't even think of that!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:53:12 +0000 UTCThank you! I was quite lucky to have the chunk just sitting around!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:53:00 +0000 UTCYes, the larger shop is superior in every way, especially since I'm making videos. I don't miss the basement at all.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:52:42 +0000 UTCSometimes, they offer the best value. They're pretty cheap and some of them are very nice.
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:52:05 +0000 UTCYou can always make a new body....but I don't recommend it!
Rex Krueger
2022-09-12 13:51:39 +0000 UTCBeautiful 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 Evans-Koch
2022-09-11 01:45:08 +0000 UTCLove that sycamore! Nice work Rex!
Matt Cottrill
2022-09-10 21:37:48 +0000 UTCThat 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.
Michael Gross
2022-09-10 17:42:14 +0000 UTCOutstanding, Rex!
Russell Gough
2022-09-10 17:38:49 +0000 UTCVery impressive.
Blake Webber
2022-09-10 17:11:36 +0000 UTCIt 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.
Jennessa Lynam
2022-09-10 16:12:18 +0000 UTCThanks for the sneak peek at a beautiful project! Your aesthetics are grand,, great job.
Edward Conway
2022-09-10 16:01:23 +0000 UTCI'd say your contribution is outstanding!
Brian Taylor
2022-09-10 14:56:24 +0000 UTCI love sycamore so much. The figure just makes me smile. I never understand why it's not used more often in furniture. Great work!
Graham Dumas
2022-09-10 14:03:50 +0000 UTCBeautiful work!
John Hiemstra
2022-09-10 14:00:59 +0000 UTCDaaaayummmmm....! 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! 😂
Richard Fluharty
2022-09-10 13:53:40 +0000 UTCReally enjoyed this video. Quite a number of tricks and tips for a small block of wood.
Craig Thibodeaux
2022-09-10 13:45:35 +0000 UTC"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.
Solia
2022-09-10 13:26:56 +0000 UTCGreat job, Rex!! I had one of those #35’s and converted it into a scrub plane.
Sean O'Neill
2022-09-10 12:41:05 +0000 UTCOnce 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.
cliff whitefoot
2022-09-10 12:36:05 +0000 UTCI discovered sycamore a couple of months ago. Great choice for the body. The grain is wonderfully interesting.
Bill Brisky
2022-09-10 12:29:14 +0000 UTCThe 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.
Richard C von Brecht
2022-09-10 12:26:22 +0000 UTCIt 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.
Don Francis
2022-09-10 12:25:39 +0000 UTCWow 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”!
joseph severson
2022-09-10 12:24:02 +0000 UTCIt 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.
Michael Bennett
2022-09-10 12:23:50 +0000 UTCAnother great video Rex - and dare I say wahoo :-)
Shane Thomas
2022-09-10 12:12:32 +0000 UTCThat turned out really well. I like the use of contrasting woods.
Robert A Carbo
2022-09-10 12:09:26 +0000 UTCCan we call this a transitional video? Great job anyway!
Pierre-Olivier Fineltin
2022-09-10 11:56:24 +0000 UTCLove the appearance of the Sycamore and, of course, your skill.
Ray Owens
2022-09-10 11:42:45 +0000 UTCA 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?
Andrew Watt
2022-09-10 11:42:00 +0000 UTCThanks, the sycamore looks fab. Never knew about transitional planes...
Gareth McMahon
2022-09-10 11:30:55 +0000 UTCCool Tool, I wish my transitional plane looked so good. Great Work!!!
Marc Barash
2022-09-10 11:19:19 +0000 UTC
