Loved it. We don't see much about saws so I guess I'd like to see what you come up with. Doesn't matter really. I'll watch most anything you put out. I hope your family is well. --Greg
@MCsCreations Жыл бұрын
Time travel! 😳
@jlw35cudvm Жыл бұрын
You guys always inspire, inform, and entertain me. Much respect and appreciation
@danwittmayer6539 Жыл бұрын
Rex I love these historical examinations of antique tools & furniture. The tote on the plane you analyze here, besides functional design, this piece is sculpturally gorgeous! I infer that the tool maker must have created exquisite furniture ❤. Thanks for all you do!
@HippoXXL Жыл бұрын
Hi Rex! There's no specific tool I'm interested in, but for me it is the examination of those little spots and dents, that tell so much about the history of an item, that makes the story exciting. Greetings from Germany, Marcus
@alskjflaksjdflakjdf Жыл бұрын
The other day I finally put together a bench vise based on your videos and it works great. But in the process I had to hand-joint a significantly twisted 2x10 board, and got a chance to use my wood river plane. Partway through I decided to try my Buck Bros made in India plane that I purchased for $40 and was shocked at how crappy the cheap plane performed. The blade and chip breaker are too thin to do a good job. The more expensive plane had a blade and chip breaker that was essentially twice as thick as the cheaper one. I bought twice and cried twice. I cried once when I bought the expensive plane, and again when I realized all that time I wasted fighting with the cheap plane. Anyways, you talking about planes made me think of my recent experience. Thanks for researching and posting this video!
@garydargan6 Жыл бұрын
Your comment on advances in planes being linked to the use of figured hardwoods reminded me of a stroy told by my high school woodwork teacher many years ago. When settlers first arrived in Australia they found that Australian hardwoods literally destroyed their soft steel English axes. This led to early Australian blacksmiths developing high quality hardened steel axes. Necessity as they say is the mother of invention.
@andyc972 Жыл бұрын
So Rex, just when does the Compass Rose Infill plane kit become available ?
@LaraCroftCP3 ай бұрын
I definitly would buy that and make my own infill plane.
@Rodrat Жыл бұрын
A kit to make these planes here would be really cool! I'd totally buy one.
@mikesalmo Жыл бұрын
I’m still green but tool restoration is such a joy. I just picked up a random plane for $8 from an antique shop not knowing what it really was. It was so much fun researching its origins, etc. I restored it enough for use, but I like those details like the spots on the wood that show me how it was handled. The owner’s modifications are fascinating too, although I had to remove a rotten leather strip that seems to have been used to soften it bottoming out. Thinking about replacing it too. I spent an hour today cutting dados for drawer bottoms with it… that’s what it’s for. A mid 1800s specialty power tool. Ok, not really a power tool but I think I could knock out a drawer with it faster than setting up a table saw. The hand marks were a turbo in overcoming the learning curve. I got more than $8 worth of intellectual entertainment and a surprisingly useful tool. Plus the satisfaction of returning it to its purpose vs being in a display of “quaint old stuff.”
@MrCheesywaffles Жыл бұрын
This was made with love. The video is well done, but looking at the duplication it's genuinely a thing of beauty.
@davidpeters8813 Жыл бұрын
hard to say what we want because we don't know what you have :) You probably have things that some of us have never seen :) I love this video series though - keep it up.
@douglassiemens4245 Жыл бұрын
Even though I can't use a hand tool to save my life, I enjoy hearing the history of them. Your stories are fascinating.
@kennethbezanson4266 Жыл бұрын
Another great video! I don't know about buying an infill plane, but I'd be interested in a kit to make my own.
@bromulo2655 Жыл бұрын
These videos are so informational, if we are talking quality work then it’s your videos! 😂
@karolskakes388 Жыл бұрын
With summer on us in North America, it is time for outdoor benches and stools - so maybe we could look at some large auger bits on T-handles and tapered reamers for fitting legs. Always look forward to your videos - great content!
@controllerpleb6568 Жыл бұрын
I love hearing about these old tools. I look forward to the next one!
@AB-C1 Жыл бұрын
Great video again Rex! Cheers from London 👍🏴🇬🇧
@scotsman7626 Жыл бұрын
This video is incredible, more please!
@robohippy Жыл бұрын
I do like that lever cap set up. Interesting......
@upsidedowndog1256 Жыл бұрын
I suspect the couple of hammer marks on the toe of that plane were from getting it to fit properly. Imagine trying to make your tool by lamplight. These are all beautiful! Cool tools, Rex. Would love to have them but not necessarily use them.
@grumblycurmudgeon Жыл бұрын
Psssh! "Lamplight"!? REAL men can make their tools in the dark! I can count on the fingers of both hands how many times I've wished for a light (though I admit: it takes all my fingers). Sooooo... two times. Hmmm... Yanno, on second though...
@Nedw Жыл бұрын
I just tried that inverted front grip ( 9:07 ) on my regular Stanley n°3 and you know what? I think I'll use it from now! I'm a beginner so I don't have strong habits to overcome yet and this grip works well! I feel it better "connects" my arm muscles with the shoulder and back, to both press down and helps the other hand push forward (which makes the plane more stable as you pull a bit more instead of just pushing from behind the cutter with the other hand).
@eugenetswong Жыл бұрын
Patrons, and Rex, thank you for this!
@johnford7847 Жыл бұрын
Nice job, Rex. I really think the biggest reason for switching to metal bodies or infill designs is the wear of wood-on-wood leading to the need for "boxing" to restore a wooden-body plane. You can shape a coffin-style smoother to fit your hands - as Krenov discusses. Perhaps the lack of such fitting in mass-produced wooden smoothers was the driving force for modifications such as you showed? You (and others) have shown how useful a hatchet can be in the workshop. I'd be interested to learn more about why they fell from favor and what tools replaced/displaced them.
@transmundanium Жыл бұрын
And it's not just the old craftsmen of the 19th century who built infill planes from kits. About 25 years ago I bought a casting set from St James Bay Tool Co and made a Norris-style parallel sided bronze smoother. And it has tarnished and worn and you can see how I hold it by the polished spots on the sides. Just like yours.
@davewest6788 Жыл бұрын
Thanks Rex. Love learning more about old tools.
@mumblbeebee6546 Жыл бұрын
I have been watching your videos for a long time now and you were great when you started already - but you have grown into such a great storyteller, visually as well as in story arc. This was a wonderful video, a real pleasure to watch! Thank you!
@oscar3811 ай бұрын
I'm so glad you made this video, as I just bought one these this morning. I was thinking when studying it, it has a home made feel about it. Now I know.
@dave-qh7qr Жыл бұрын
Great video👍👍👍 please keep history content coming. How about history of handsaws. A lot of makers out there.
@ongridself-reliantfamily1751 Жыл бұрын
Just wanted to say that I really appreciate your use of the term "craftsman" in this video. I know that in some sense it isn't as inclusive of everyone interested in woodworking, using the modern meaning of words and phrases. But in the traditional understanding, a "craftsman" would have included any women in the trade. And I like the continuity of language so that people today can read the old books about woodworking, and not think that the old writers were sexist. I like the idea that we teach language today such that people can read the books that cover the history of the craft and get an accurate metal image of how things were. Thanks so much for the fun video about a beautiful old tool.
@alexjames1146 Жыл бұрын
The Compass Rose Tools segue was seamless and perfect. 5 stars. Another interesting historical review. I would like to see more open shots of the tool. Thank you Mr K.
@theeddorian Жыл бұрын
I really enjoy these discussions of tool and use traces. I have written reports covering similar traces in chipped stone tools. I find the process to be really enjoyable.
@chrisp.7610 ай бұрын
Love tool stories!
@thomasarussellsr Жыл бұрын
Personally, I find the infill planes quite beautiful. The iron and bronze/brass together with the wood is just a work of functional art, to me anyway.❤ I am a bit partial to the ones with an iron sole dove tailed to brass or bronze sides, but depending on the wood used and the patina, they can all tell a beautiful story. One only needs an inquisitive and open mind.👀😜
@psguardian Жыл бұрын
I feel like there could be a series of tool stories just in plane types. Maybe starting with the more sought after collectibles (that you have or can borrow). Or scrapers.
@professor62 Жыл бұрын
One of your best, Rex! Verrrry interesting. Love these vids with historical context.
@franciskisner920 Жыл бұрын
If the user held the tote in their Left hand, the index finger and thumb of the Right hand would naturally lie where you found the marks on the front sides. Thanks for the video.
@slomkaadas9603 Жыл бұрын
I love this series, please do it more. That was very interesting video. Thank you Cheers from Poland 🍻
@rustysnails Жыл бұрын
Answered all the questions I had about the origins of my unbranded smoother infill.
@shanksjeffcott8598 Жыл бұрын
That was amazing and fun. I had no idea about all that. I have a coffin plain that I picked up for $5 au from i think in usa you call a thrift shop. Now im looking at different im thinking should i be like the old timers and do all the mods you you mentioned it would be a learning curve. I love history of tools please make more. My suggestion is draw knifes i just love them as well as spoke shave’s I would love for you to do something on them. Thanks again you rock i get so much out of your videos. You are very easy to listen to and you cover the topic without the over info. And for a person with extreme ADHD you keep me focused interested and give the right amount if of info to process which keeps me on the path to learn more woodwork. You rock. Im off to be creative.
@Mikey__R Жыл бұрын
I've got a later post war Norris A5. It clearly has the same DNA as the Spiers, but the tote connects to the frog at the top, plus it has a machine bolt running the height of the handle, across the grain to strengthen it.
@glencrandall7051 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
@silamaleesri8661 Жыл бұрын
My favourite smoother is my infill spiers but the one I co spider fun to use is my coffin smoother. It's hard to grip until you find that magic grip just behind the iron and then it's an amazing tool
@MrRogsmart Жыл бұрын
Good one. More please.
@CrimeVid Жыл бұрын
I’m not sure how it worked in the US Rex, but back in the day,in the UK particularly, carpenters and joiners did not earn a lot of money. And tools were comparatively expensive. So it was much more economical to make what you could, than it is today. In my lifetime the price of powertools is ridiculously lower than it was when I started in the sixties. My father,as a young architect , thought twice before buying a new tool for our home, and I meant a hand drill or a crosscut saw ! which now you could buy for a couple of hours work.
@noahfreeman8115 Жыл бұрын
loved this!
@jacquessauvageau6256 Жыл бұрын
Very informative as usual. I really love the ergonomics of that plane, the connection between the handle and the main body is a nice feature. And as a bonus, it seems to produce very nice shavings, would love to give it a try. Thank you Rex!
@vasky22 Жыл бұрын
Rex, love the video. Could the teeth marks be from planing down the workbench? Anyway, more videos like this please. Would really like to see your restoration of that gunmetal infill.
@michaelnorris4629 Жыл бұрын
Yo Rex, I didn’t know it until know it until I watch this video, that I have a very close experience from making black powder guns from very rough kits from Italia. I had to match sand casted brass to roughly cut white oak. I learned how to put a shine on all of it and to make them function.
@MCsCreations Жыл бұрын
Really interesting tool indeed, Rex! 😃 Thanks for the history lesson! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
@dmmflys Жыл бұрын
Always enjoy ur videos and history lessons
@markduggan3451 Жыл бұрын
Very interesting video.
@rawr2u190 Жыл бұрын
Such an interesting video
@markp6062 Жыл бұрын
Caught this on Patreon. Neat video, great info!
@AnonymousUser1776 Жыл бұрын
You’re going to do a video on restoring that Spiers? Right? Please? Pretty please with wood shavings on top?
@mariushegli Жыл бұрын
I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.
@rebent Жыл бұрын
Rex, do you have any tools that shed light onto how the worker's life and lifestyle might have been different from today? When you talk about how workers had to make their own tools, I thought of how I have to make and manage my own laptop and car, in order to do my job. And it's also interesting to see how the tools themselves were modified and customized to keep them patched together, whereas I feel like today tools are disposed of and replaced while they still have a great deal of life left in them.
@MrHerbie7611 ай бұрын
I would like to see a video all about trammel points.
@jimbo2629 Жыл бұрын
After 50 years of woodworking and buying many planes I have discovered the best plane by far. It’s one I made myself and has Veritas hardware. What makes it so good? The quality of the Veritas iron and THE LOW ANGLE.
@terristroh3965 Жыл бұрын
Interesting. More!
@jinseong88 Жыл бұрын
loving the tool videos!! also making me feel better about using my own shopmade planes
@darodes Жыл бұрын
Can’t wait for the compass rose smoothing plane 😉😉😉😉😉
@StefanTarras Жыл бұрын
Great video Rex!. Very timely too, since I was at a antique mall yesterday and saw an infill hidden in the bottom of a case in the corner or a room. I didn't have time to track down the guy with the keys but I really want to go back and handle it and see if I can justify the $275 price tag on it.
@NAH1907 Жыл бұрын
Infill Planes are interesting piece of hand plane history, especially with how prevalent Stanley and Stanley copied planes there were during the time.
@christopherharrison6724 Жыл бұрын
Really interesting as always thanks Rex.
@donaldasayers Жыл бұрын
Til very recently an online store in the UK had the castings for sale.
@tonyennis178711 ай бұрын
12:15 Also, a company called Stanley was producing metal planes that were easier to adjust, had standard irons, were more durable, and were more stable. But to make a Bailey-pattern plane you needed a foundry. The infill planes were in some ways the poor man's version - instead of being cast, they were made of hammered steel and brass plate and required very few tools to make.
@tonygohagan2766 Жыл бұрын
I'd like to see a Tool Stories video on. . . the humble File and/or Rasp!
@DavZell Жыл бұрын
Hi, Rex. I'm a longtime subscriber. I have some feedback that is likely only relevant to a small portion of your viewers. I have some issues with visual processing. The sliding transitions you use are often confusing to my brain and actually hurt my eyes. Some visual effects are fun for everyone, but as in this video, there were sections with quite a lot. I would be very grateful if you considered paring back on the funky transitions. Thanks for listening and all your videos. The teardown vids are my favorites.
@ThunderSqueak Жыл бұрын
for that grip, it makes me wonder if they were simply left handed and not using a weird grip
@Mark-xl8gg Жыл бұрын
The marking of tools was often undertaken by the union to which the craftsman belonged,this continued in the uk until the late seventies
@aluyanoworkshop1166 Жыл бұрын
This content is brilliant, thank you Rex! A thought I had was about the history of Lie Nielsen. Especially some of their vintage, more esoteric tools. I realize that this project would be ...extravagent... but hey, if enough people feel the same, it might provide you with the perfect excuse!
@marcbarash6045 Жыл бұрын
like the way you slipped in your router plane add. (I have one)
@theidlehandsworkshop3884 Жыл бұрын
Heya big guy !!! I know it's been a while, as for what's something I would like to see or hear about ??? The Ultimatum Braces, you know, those high end ones with all the brass, silver, ivory, ebony, etc.. Aside from the materials, what makes them so special, why were they made like that, who would use such a high end tool... so many questions !!!
@Hawkeyelaotzu Жыл бұрын
Would love one on specialty bits for a brace. Recently acquired about 40 bits and not sure what a couple of them were used for. One is square and tapered.
@rhyskenny6429 Жыл бұрын
Hey Rex if you need a theme song or jingle for this new series I'd love to make one for you! :)
@LaraCroftCP2 ай бұрын
I'm still waiting for the Compassrose infill plane kit.
@nodarikirtadze8220 Жыл бұрын
Now I want an Infill
@ianpearse4480 Жыл бұрын
Very interesting.
@pitsnipe5559 Жыл бұрын
Awesome, please continue with these. Chisels?
@christopherblare6414 Жыл бұрын
Maybe the hammer marks on the front eere from someone adjusting the blade, but only a couple times before they decided not to.
@D-B-Cooper Жыл бұрын
When you hit the front of the plane you hold it upside down so you can see the blade. If you hit the iron you can’t see to fine tune it. I was hoping you would show the tiny one I have, about 4” long.
@thomaskoehler2456 Жыл бұрын
Is it possible that the owner was left-handed and so that's why the index finger and thumb marks were in unusual locations?
@lv_woodturner3899 Жыл бұрын
As a leftie myself, that sounds like a possibility.
@pdloder Жыл бұрын
It seems to me just from watching that the most ergonomic grip for the front hand would be palm heel on the near side brass thumb resting behind the wood and fingers on the far side brass. Is there a problem with that posture?
@patkeefe5834 Жыл бұрын
Good vid, I recently brought a 1/2" infill shoulder plane. It has surprising heft, for it size. Does it work as well as the Veritas 1/2" shoulder plane, no, but it does look good in my office :)
@GreenlandRobot Жыл бұрын
The plane stop marks on the toe might have been during assembly trying to get the perfectly fit back piece installed.
@patrickgallagherfrevdrtor8665 Жыл бұрын
Hey Rex, interesting as always. Your comments about why metal planes, infills in this case, at the end of the 1800s made me think. Lots of challenging new hardwoods coming from where? Could it be the European plundering and carve up of the globe and particularly of Africa after the 1880s! If so, another interesting historical element in the story of tools, and like so much history, not terribly innocent such as colonialism wasn’t. Anyway, i enjoy your work from just down the road in C. Falls Oh. Keep up the good work.
@Raye938 Жыл бұрын
Is there a way you can tell the user wasn't left handed and holding the thumb and finger in the same position but overhand?
@RyanJBarnard Жыл бұрын
Rex is there any chance of you making a kit for your tool business?
@jimbo2629 Жыл бұрын
One metal plane for life and then pass it on. One coffin plane for a couple of years maybe.
@jamesnurgle6368 Жыл бұрын
biomechanically that grip could cause issues for your shoulder if you used it long term, unless they were reaching over something to use the plane "sideways"
@baileythesleepless9966 Жыл бұрын
I wonder if one of the original owners jammed it into the planing stop while re flattening their bench and had to hammer it off or something
@osliverpool Жыл бұрын
"Do you want a user-made infill plane for your shop?" Oh, yes! It's been a dream to find one here in the UK for ages, but I never have.
@oncomics1128 Жыл бұрын
Could the hammer marks come from custom fitting a high up barn raft, ship part, carriage part where some how the plane gets jammed? Personally, I would use a hatchet or coping saw in such a spot but with a beam in your lap and getting heavier a plane might get be force (or luck) multiplier
@mikecatherine3224 Жыл бұрын
I thought Rex was going to release a new kit for an infill plane
@alangknowles Жыл бұрын
As a kid, I was used to dad's wooden plane. I bought a metal #4 and tried to adjust it in the same way. I bet someone did the same with that one, hence the hammer marks on the front. And perhaps overshooting and hitting the stop was the same kid. Did he get belted after?
@johanneswerner1140 Жыл бұрын
I forgot who, but somebody on KZbin actually had a video about hammer adjusting a metal plane. And depending on the adjusting mechanism it might make sense...
@a_life_painted_with_color Жыл бұрын
I imagine the front was hit by an apprentice that didn't know any better. There's only a couple of strike marks on the tool because after he was beaten for his mistake, he never did it again. It explains the plane stop marks as well.
@raphaelluckom11096 ай бұрын
I wonder if the marks from the planing stop and from being hit with a hammer could be from a small child "borrowing" the plane from Dad and playing around with it.
@chasefreeman2188 Жыл бұрын
How did they use to get the handles and parts so smooth without sandpaper? Carving/scraping?
@mongocrock Жыл бұрын
Who says they didn't have sandpaper. It was pricey, but they had it. Files would get you close, and you could use loose abrasives as well. Sandpaper is not new. Cheers
@RexKrueger Жыл бұрын
I think scrapers are most likely. Maybe a bit of "glass paper". Then decades of use really smoothed it out.
@scottswineford6714 Жыл бұрын
Sort of sideways. I've been thinking about the challenge low angle planes you and James made and was thinking turned on it's side and relocating the tote and you have a shooting plane.
@hawaiianryan1890 Жыл бұрын
The plane stop marks might be residual from planing the wood inside the plane itself before it was installed in the tool. Or, maybe it was just some kid playing with the plane.
@BradsWorkbench Жыл бұрын
Of course i want one... but i dont need one 😂
@navret1707 Жыл бұрын
Rex - Isn’t it possible that Olden stole the plane from Wethersfield? Just a thought.