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99801 | Don Stern <donstern@y...> | 2001‑11‑19 | Annual planing competition |
Random notes from this years Kazaru kai (planing competition) For those that don't know about this event, this was the second annual staging of a planing competition, sponsored by Hida Tools in Berkeley. The original event was started in Japan about 5 years ago to encourage the preservation of traditional Japanese woodworking methods. Held in the US for the first time last year and repeated again this year with a wider demonstration of skills that included forging blades by Japanese blacksmiths. Other participants from Japan were a number of carpenters, a teahouse builder, and furniture maker. Attendees came from all parts of the country and Canada along with a contingent from the College of the Redwoods led by David Welter. Among local attendees were students of Jay van Arsdale, BAWA members, galoots and galootettes. The final event each day was a competition, open to any and all, to see who could produce the longest, thinnest, widest shaving on dimensioned boards of hinoki cypress. But before this, the Japanese craftsmen demonstrated their planes and chisels and encouraged everyone to try out their skills with these tools (or any tools the attendees brought). They also answered questions about plane preparation and technique. Tried several planes prepared by the masters and got some incredible shavings. One plane really caught my eye, it was about 9" wide and about 12" long with a blade about 7" wide. The body was a Japanese cherry and the owner said that there weren't any stones present which were wide enough to use for honing; also, there was a slight cupping of the body due to change in humidity from Japan to the West Coast. Nevertheless, he adjusted it, got some shavings and gave it to me to try. Not an easy beast to control, but the shavings and finish were impessive even though the tuning wasn't up to "normal" standards. There was also a humongous block of rough, figured rewood that was to be finished for a bench. Dimensions were about 8' x 4' and about 3' high.. Several carpenters went at it initially with Japanese adzes but progress was slow in establishing a flat reference surface. One of the carpenters pulled out a non-traditional Makita planer and attacked one end, in the interest of time, to flatten and establish a reference for winding sticks. One or two highlights: A fellow, whose name I'd like to get, used a Stanley 41/2 to get some incredible shavings. Last year none of the Western planes came near the competition. But this one's sole was tuned similarly to Japanese planes. There were three points of contact established, the toe, throat front and end of the heel. The rest of the sole was scraped to provide the relief from contact which are characteristic of Japanese planes. Often wondered if you could tune a metal plane like that and get good results, apparently you can. One participant who I expected to do well, Manny Hernandez didn't show up on Sunday. He, the owner of the ringer "Buck Brothers" plane, which he claimed to have bought at Home Depot. Entrants can use any plane they wished to but Manny's insistance in disguising his iron didn't fool anyone. His pit crew insist that the plane was dropped while loading into the tool van, rendering it useless. But an unnamed source said that Manny got so excited while watching the SF 49ers that morning, and didn't realize that the plane fell from his lap and got buried behind some sofa cushions. :)) Hope Hida continues to sponser this event, it is well worth going to. Don __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals http://personals.yahoo.com |
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99802 | sepost@h... (Scott Post) | 2001‑11‑19 | Re: Annual planing competition |
> Don Stern wrote: > > Tried several planes prepared by the masters and got some incredible > shavings. One plane really caught my eye, it was about 9" wide and about > 12" long with a blade about 7" wide. There's a picture of one just a hair smaller here: http://www.wwforum.com/cgi-bin/forum_main/handtool.cgi?read=40708 How's that for a shaving? -- Just say finishing up a quartersawn sycamore cabinet for my wife's Xmas gift. Incredible wood. |
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99820 | paul womack <pwomack@e...> | 2001‑11‑20 | Re: Annual planing competition |
Don Stern wrote: > One or two highlights: > > A fellow, whose name I'd like to get, used a Stanley 41/2 to get some > incredible shavings. Last year none of the Western planes came near > the competition. But this one's sole was tuned similarly to Japanese > planes. There were three points of contact established, the toe, > throat front and end of the heel. The rest of the sole was scraped to > provide the relief from contact which are characteristic of Japanese > planes. Often wondered if you could tune a metal plane like that and > get good results, apparently you can. Damn your eyes, sir! Having seen a Japanese plane "in the flesh" at the recent APTC show in the UK, I was think of taking an *ngl* gr*nd*r to a "spare" modern(English) Stanley #4, removing "hollows" from the heel and toe middles, and then flattening the remaining sole (3 point contact). I was going to use my Samurai laminated blade (more out of "mojo" than any though that it's my ultimate blade; I have aster market blades by other makers that are its equal) I have thought that: * Lapping is easier (very little metal is begin flattened after the rough work) * there will be definite pressure at the front of the mouth (reducing tear out?) * there may be a burnishing effect from the high pressure (pressure = force/area) Out of interest the much-derided Sam Allan shows almost this process in his plane book, athough he only make "scoops" in the sole, not full width hollows. And he's working on a #9 1/2. Being a ruminative sort, I hadn't got round to it, yet. But I was going to do it, and report (hopefully in triumph) to the Porch. And now you go and tell me someones already done it. Ah well; back to the drawing board. BugBear |
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99832 | Stephen Forman <StephenF@f...> | 2001‑11‑20 | RE: Annual planing competition |
Bugbear wrote Damn your eyes, sir! Having seen a Japanese plane "in the flesh" at the recent APTC show in the UK, I was think of taking an *ngl* gr*nd*r to a "spare" modern(English) Stanley #4, removing "hollows" from the heel and toe middles, and then flattening the remaining sole (3 point contact). I was going to use my Samurai laminated blade (more out of "mojo" than any though that it's my ultimate blade; I have aster market blades by other makers that are its equal) I have thought that: * Lapping is easier (very little metal is begin flattened after the rough work) * there will be definite pressure at the front of the mouth (reducing tear out?) * there may be a burnishing effect from the high pressure (pressure = force/area) Out of interest the much-derided Sam Allan shows almost this process in his plane book, athough he only make "scoops" in the sole, not full width hollows. And he's working on a #9 1/2. Being a ruminative sort, I hadn't got round to it, yet. But I was going to do it, and report (hopefully in triumph) to the Porch. Sorry old chap, but Clifton have beat you too it, too! My #7 arrived concave. Worked on it a bit and now the toe up to the mouth, the mouth and ½ behind plus the heel all touch the straigt-edge. Point is though, I paid full price. Shame! Steve Forman. |
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99852 | Scott Murman <smurman@b...> | 2001‑11‑20 | Re: Annual planing competition |
> A fellow, whose name I'd like to get, used a Stanley 41/2 to get some > incredible shavings. Last year none of the Western planes came near the > competition. But this one's sole was tuned similarly to Japanese planes. > There were three points of contact established, the toe, throat front and > end of the heel. The rest of the sole was scraped to provide the relief > from contact which are characteristic of Japanese planes. Often wondered > if you could tune a metal plane like that and get good results, apparently > you can. I've seen this done on block planes quite a bit. Think there's even an article from FWW that recommends it. Never tried it myself, but then I'm happy just not to shave any skin when I'm planing. -SM- |
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