Early Access Video: The Legendary Infill Plane
Added 2020-10-24 11:00:02 +0000 UTCFriends:
This video has been years in the making. From the very start of my woodworking, more than 10 years ago, I had heard about the mysterious “infill planes” of Scotland and Great Britain. These tools are often discussed, but rarely seen in people’s shops. Look at the cover of Garrett Hack’s definitive _The Handpane Book_ and you’ll see a pristine Norris A5 smoother. These planes have such a complex reputation for being temperamental and unattainable that I wasn’t even sure I wanted one.
Aw, who am I kidding? I wanted one desperately.
Well recently, I’ve gotten to know the renowned tool dealer Patrick Leach a little bit and he had a reasonably-priced Norris A5 from after World War II. These post-war planes are much less collectible than older models, but no less effective for actual woodworking. I snatched it up.
But no one needs to see me do a tool review of an old, impractical plane, so instead I’m doing a deep dive into the history and construction of these tools. In this video, I trace them all the way from their roots in 16th century violin-maker’s planes to the post-war cast iron tools made in London. This video is among the most ambitious and philosophical I’ve made. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I hope you will, too.
--Rex
Comments
Harmonic Vibration = "Chatter"
Jeff Gedney
2020-10-26 18:49:10 +0000 UTCRex, I'm disagreeing, see my comment below to see a German building an infill plane.
Angelo
2020-10-26 07:41:51 +0000 UTCSeeing your video reminds me off a video from German TV where they showing old craftsmans doing their work. There is one who's doing an infill plane. I highly recommend his homepage: http://www.traditional-handplanes.com/index_de.php There you can find a link to the video where he is explaining exactly how to build this infill plane (in German - If you don't understand it, it's to bad, since he's very funny). He's even selling the basic parts to build it yourself on his homepage.
Angelo
2020-10-26 07:38:22 +0000 UTCMoments before you said the wood would "dampen the harmonic vibrations" in the infill plane that is exactly what went through my head, "that's going to reduce any harmonics" I said to myself. Et voila! I don't think it's rubbish and your demonstration on the reversing grain suggests to me that that's what happening. Fascinating video as usual, I enjoy it when you digress into history and philosophy. I use to lecture and tutor in the history and philosophy of science long, long ago. Fascinating stuff.
Laurie Savage
2020-10-25 22:49:45 +0000 UTCExcellent non project video. I totally buy the harmonic vibration idea. I like really twisted wood, and it breaks my heart sometimes when I can't get it planed without tearout. I keep a bunch of different planes around because for no obvious reason some of them that I dislike will plane that messed up knot than my favorite tools won't do. I am leaning towards Ron Hock's advice to use thick blades with really tight chip breaker positioning. That won't eliminate and dampen vibration, but will drive the vibration to a higher frequency, and lower amplitude. I suspect chip breakers do dampen vibration. Patrick Leach at Supertool is a blessing to anyone looking for good old tools, and who can't imagine that dickering over price or buying on ebay is worth the time. Patrick knows tools and his take it or leave it pricing is a super way to operate IMO. Highly recommended.
Michael Ross
2020-10-25 16:04:50 +0000 UTCAnother question answered. Thanks, Rex!
Jeff Stauffer
2020-10-25 14:45:23 +0000 UTCThere's no beef here....the Germans don't make infills, so no need to fight.
Rex Krueger
2020-10-25 12:42:19 +0000 UTCInfill planes are most often Scottish and therefore superior to all other hand planes by default. FIGHT ME IF YOU DISAGREE!!!!!
Eric Paisley
2020-10-25 04:45:01 +0000 UTCwhen I was growing up in rural Alberta we had a neighbour who was a carpenter. He had a small 40 acre holding where he raised a few pigs. But his main deal was building furniture. He used only hand tools and lived entirely without power. He always wore a three piece suit, even when working in his shop. He always had apprentices , and he insisted they wear a vest, shirt and tie, even if it was denim. He passed away in his sleep, at home, at 97. All his apprentices showed up at his funeral, in vests, shirt and tie. There os something to be said for a touch of tradition and ritual.
William Allen
2020-10-25 02:37:30 +0000 UTCSo glad I became a patron! This was super interesting. I love deep dives like this so you not only understand the how of a tool but the why it got this way. Great job!
Michael Grundy
2020-10-25 01:46:26 +0000 UTCSo glad you appreciate me trying new things! (I'll build something next week.)
Rex Krueger
2020-10-24 23:23:28 +0000 UTCAlways a pleasure ... especially after the kids have gone to bed!!
Matt
2020-10-24 20:25:20 +0000 UTCI really enjoy these history lessons on old tools. You make them enjoyable as well as educational. Along with the Vise Squad videos and the Furniture Forensics videos (I hope there will be more of these) my Saturday mornings get just the right start. Furniture projects are great, but the history of the tools being used to make them adds so much more to the process. Thank you for taking such a different approach in your videos. Take care, stay well and see you nest week.
Matt Evans-Koch
2020-10-24 20:14:37 +0000 UTCThanks, Rex. I appreciate your helpful response.
Sean O'Neill
2020-10-24 19:42:29 +0000 UTCThank you!
Rex Krueger
2020-10-24 19:29:02 +0000 UTCWelcome, Frank! We're glad to have you!
Rex Krueger
2020-10-24 19:28:50 +0000 UTCEVER. No contest.
Rex Krueger
2020-10-24 19:28:27 +0000 UTCIn fact, the 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 were specifically produced to compete with these planes and they do a VERY decent job, even if they're not exactly the same.
Rex Krueger
2020-10-24 19:27:51 +0000 UTCBoth! I do need more than a week for a lot of furniture builds, but I'm also going to do more of these videos based around history or ideas. They're hard to make (thanks for the comparison to BBC docs!) but I can't just build stuff all the time. Lots of people do that and there's room for more thought and historical perspective.
Rex Krueger
2020-10-24 19:26:27 +0000 UTCAll in the video description!
Rex Krueger
2020-10-24 19:24:36 +0000 UTCAnother outstanding video. I imagine many of "us" out here feel the same thrill when we get these videos in our inboxes as you do when you receive Mortise & Tenon. I always learn so much & the teacher in you makes it so enjoyable. Well done.
Michael Doyle
2020-10-24 18:15:35 +0000 UTCGreat video. I know what you mean about the nostalgia of an old tool. I own a couple of very old planes, wooden body, and every time I pick one up I wonder how many people used it before I did, and I wonder who they were. Where have they been and what have they done. I love the nostalgia of old tools. Keep up the good work. I really liked this video. I am a new patron and this is my first post, hope to make many more. With stuff this good coming, it is bound to happen. Thanks.
Frank Agee
2020-10-24 18:05:42 +0000 UTCSame here!
Mike M
2020-10-24 15:19:13 +0000 UTCYou know, I buy the harmonic vibration thing. Makes mechanical sense to me, but that's me. I have certainly experienced the reversing grain tear out thing. Even when I narrow the mouth. I often resort to a card or cabinet scraper. So, again, it makes sense to me that the higher angle would reduce the tear out. I have actually been looking at a high angle plane, just for finish surfacing. Nothing beats a plane finished surface for smoothness and natural shine. Sandpaper doesn't even come close. I know that Veritas uses Norris adjusters and I have a couple Veritas planes. The movement works very well. What I particularly like about it is that it stays set, So, I guess I'm off to subscribe to Patrick Leach. Oh, and yes, Mortise and Tenon is more than worth the money. I read it from cover to cover every time, and then go back and reread large parts. Best magazine ever.
William Allen
2020-10-24 15:11:11 +0000 UTCsupertool.com
William Allen
2020-10-24 15:10:24 +0000 UTCThank, you Rex for your historical info, as well as the “de-mystifying” of these infill planes. I’m kind of a history geek, and pretty nostalgic, too. I can appreciate your feelings on using a plane made by a company coming out of the throes of WWII and the craftsman who owned and used it. I like to think about the person/persons who used some of the old planes I have and restored. What did they make with them? Were they used every day to support their families? We’re they used to fix up and repair their home or business? Really cool to think these tools were used long ago in challenging times and are still being used today, even in our own challenging times. Also glad to hear they’re not something absolutely necessary for my kit. Probably couldn’t afford one at this point. Question: If I had a 5 1/2 or a 4 1/2 Stanley, would they somewhat do what these infills were used for, e.g. wider panels, etc.?
Sean O'Neill
2020-10-24 14:30:03 +0000 UTCLove the old photo of two guys in their suit and ties working in a shop. Classy!
Laura Reutter
2020-10-24 14:22:32 +0000 UTCThanks for the history lesson Rex! Your feelings when using the infill plane sound similar to how I feel when using a 1936 typewriter I bought a few years ago from the granddaughter of the original owner. I grew up far after the heyday of the typewriter, but I do have this sense of nostalgia when using it. It's fun to think that it was made before WWII when the world was a very different place than it was today.
Alex Lopatka
2020-10-24 13:59:42 +0000 UTCMark - I am sure you know that it looks like he added another closeup video segment and left the original audio track for the main camera angle. Good job I am not filming there would be a lot of bleep out sounds.
John Harrison
2020-10-24 13:20:50 +0000 UTCI enjoyed the history of the infill plane, this video reminded me of a professionally produced show on PBS. Normally, you don't see this kind of thing on American TV... This reminds me of something from the BBC. Rex, are you moving more in this direction? Or do you need more time than 1 week to do more ambitious project builds? I enjoyed the multi-week cabinet build, if that's a possibility.
Geoffrey Wilson
2020-10-24 13:16:57 +0000 UTCGreat production Rex! You made the history very interesting and put the tool to work. thanks
Alan Lamborn
2020-10-24 13:01:07 +0000 UTCI absolutely love waking up on Saturday mornings finding a Rex video in my inbox! Really nice to wake up with a cup of coffee watching these videos! Gets my head going - thoughts of things my wife would rather me not think lol!
Jeremy Denslinger
2020-10-24 13:00:42 +0000 UTCAnother great video. Do we have to wait for the official release to get the links? Specifically Patrick Leach.
Jephrey South
2020-10-24 12:57:49 +0000 UTCAnd that’s why I’m a Patreon.
Mark Bittrolff
2020-10-24 12:36:24 +0000 UTCThank You, for demystifying a rare, beautiful, and useful tool we've all heard about but haven't seen. Supposedly, from what little I've heard, the weight was a feature, because when dealing with twisting, switching, diving grain once you were in motion you could keep it in motion.
Kelly D West
2020-10-24 11:41:07 +0000 UTCAnother damn good history episode. I love learning about the bygone eras and how they are still relevant today.
The Deaf Maker
2020-10-24 11:33:51 +0000 UTCHey Rex, you might want to take another look (listen) to the section around 8:10 in this video. The audio doesn't quite match the video in the transitions between the wide and close up shots. Also, fascinating history lesson here. Thanks!
Mark Thornton
2020-10-24 11:28:46 +0000 UTC
