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Become a MemberFebruary 26, 2014
[inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]Necessity is the mother of invention[/inlinetweet] ( Tweet that ! )
And here we go !
I’m really excited to begin a new video series with you today-
this time it’s the Kerfing Plane, a tool I invented during the course of writing my last book, The Unplugged Woodshop.
If you already have my book, you’ll know exactly what this tool was designed for;
if you’ve already made a kerfing plane for yourself,
you’ll know that cutting a kerf around the edge of a board, is the least this tool can do.
A fixed fence model in use.
UTILITY
In a nutshell, the tool was originally designed to cut a kerf around the perimeter of a board before re-sawing.
Knowing that a saw will follow the path of least resistance,
I needed a way to create this ‘path’ for the purpose of eliminating saw drift.
This version of the plane is the fixed fence model.
( my book also shows you how to make an adjustable fence version )
The fixed fence model has a dedicated off set, ( the distance from the saw plate to the fence ) so it can only do one job.
In this case, its job is to cut a kerf at 1/8-in. from the face of a board to a depth of about 1/2-in.
This kerf creates ‘a path’ for a saw blade to follow, thus making resawing tasks much more reliable and accurate.
This model was specific for resawing shop made veneer and it works exceptional well.
As you’ll see in the video, there is very little material needed, and you can easily make a basic version of this tool in a weekend.
My good friend, Mark Harrell, at Bad Axe Tool Works, is now offering Kerfing Plane saw plates and fasteners.
The specs are the same as the book, so you’ll be able to make your own versions of the plane exactly as I designed it.
I’ll break out some further details in later posts but for now, enjoy the first installment of the Kerfing Plane.
Cheers!
THE MUSIC AND THE TOOLS
The two songs in this video are from my Beyond Before CD, and were recorded with Douglas September on Roxton Road around 2002.
Douglas played a transistor radio and created live loops off the floor as the song was recorded.
The first song, ‘all the wrongs for missing rights’ was written one night in New York City sometime around 1999.
I was taking a taxi through the lower East Side, on the way back to my hotel.
As the cab approached the inner-section, I noticed a large man wearing only a ballerina too-too,
standing in the middle of the street directing traffic.
My car slowed as we approached, to drive safely around him.
He was grinning ear to ear, and didn’t seem to notice, as another vehicle came rushing through the inner-section.
As I watched out my window, and before he could wipe that perfect grin off his face,
he was struck by the oncoming vehicle and fell down dead.
When I got back to the hotel, I wrote the song.
The second song, ‘these compromised bruises of opportunity’ and was written while I was still in high school.
Some of the tools used in the video are:
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I would contend that “Laziness is the true mother of invention”. Love the post
This looks like a fantastic idea! Nice video too.
Great vid and music as always Tom! A pleasure to read and watch you work wood!
I am working on my kerfing plane. Some difficulties in finding the hardware, spring steel from Germany, saw nuts&bolts from Blackburn tools in the US. I made a few mods. Will send pics when done. Frame saw is next!
Best
Aymeric
How deep is the rabbet?
Thanks for all the comments folks!
Aymeric, for sure- send me some pics when you get it done !
Simon, you’ll find all the specs in my book-; )
cheers!
I have the book (which is great!), but hadn’t been able to find the size of the rabbet. It’s not in the diagram or the text, but lurks in a caption on page 122, for anyone else with the same problem.
Thanks! I’ve got the blades and will be building soon.
Thanks Simon,
great to hear you found it and you’re right, it is lurking in the photo caption. I should have included it in the illustration but missed it.
Thanks for understanding why I couldn’t give details here in the comments.
Best of luck when you build yours and I’d love to see some pics when it’s complete.
Cheers!
Tom
Hi Tom,
Great idea, beautiful execution!
Could it also be used in other ways such as for making rabbets? And with modifications for even more – maybe two blades to make a standard tenon, or even an adjustable tenon width, maybe sliding dovetail ?? Etc.
Rob
Hi Rob,
thanks for the comments!
I’ve used it for rabbets, dadoes and grooves and with a few other modifications it’s perfect for repeated shoulder cuts. Even bread board ends and small repeated cross cuts.
I’m currently working on some other ideas that will be made public later this year, or early in 2015.
I’d love to share but keeping it under wraps for now ~; 0
thanks again for the feedback Rob, hope all is well with you.
Tom
Love the video and post-as I do with all of them. Seeing that accident had to have been tough, having not heard the song before I can’t help but think that it may be cool if the gentleman’s family could know that at least through that tragedy you were touched and moved to create a song, but obviously most likely not possibly to do. You may not have meant your post to send this message but my takeaway memory from it is “life is short so stay out of the cities and make make shavings instead”!!
God bless,
Nate
When I upgraded one of my saws, I kept the blade thinking that surely there was something I could do with it.
Now I know what to do with it!
Nice idea. I really could have used this when I was starting the kerf for new saw totes.
Hi Tom,
When using this plane in combination with a frame saw to resaw lumber, why is the offset from the edge only 1/8″?
If I had a 4/4 board for example and wanted two 3/8″ halves for a box, this plane wouldn’t be suitable for the task of kerfing the middle of the board correct?
Brad,
thanks for the comments and question. Sounds like you should buy a copy of my book! ~; )
( available right here )
All joking aside, you’ll find instruction on making different planes with different off sets or going a step further and making a plane with an adjustable fence. Watch the rest of the video series and you’ll see what I mean.
Cheers~
A Perfect Work!
I was wondering if would be useful a kerfing plane for making dovetailed dados.
Cheers!
I think so- it may involve making a custom fence but probably very doable-; )