This BEAUTIFUL vintage plane was a DIY Kit??? | Tool Stories

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Man, I love these videos!

[@What_Other_Hobbies]

That was fast.

[@Deqster]

Hey Rex, who the heck is this guy? ☝️👀

[@gregpreston7301]

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]

Time travel! 😳

[@jlw35cudvm]

You guys always inspire, inform, and entertain me. Much respect and appreciation

[@bromulo2655]

These videos are so informational, if we are talking quality work then it’s your videos! 😂

[@MrCheesywaffles]

This was made with love. The video is well done, but looking at the duplication it's genuinely a thing of beauty.

[@danwittmayer6539]

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!

[@andyc972]

So Rex, just when does the Compass Rose Infill plane kit become available ?

[@LaraCroftCP]

I definitly would buy that and make my own infill plane.

[@tonyennis1787]

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.

[@transmundanium]

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.

[@alskjflaksjdflakjdf]

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]

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.

[@mikesalmo]

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.”

[@Rodrat]

A kit to make these planes here would be really cool! I'd totally buy one.

[@eugenetswong]

Patrons, and Rex, thank you for this!

[@slomkaadas9603]

I love this series, please do it more. That was very interesting video. Thank you Cheers from Poland 🍻

[@HippoXXL]

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

[@ongridself-reliantfamily1751]

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.

[@douglassiemens4245]

Even though I can't use a hand tool to save my life, I enjoy hearing the history of them. Your stories are fascinating.

[@davidpeters8813]

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.

[@karolskakes388]

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!

[@glencrandall7051]

Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@johnford7847]

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.

[@jimbo2629]

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.

[@darodes]

Can’t wait for the compass rose smoothing plane 😉😉😉😉😉

[@controllerpleb6568]

I love hearing about these old tools. I look forward to the next one!

[@rustysnails]

Answered all the questions I had about the origins of my unbranded smoother infill.

[@thomasarussellsr]

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.👀😜

[@robohippy]

I do like that lever cap set up. Interesting......

[@alexjames1146]

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.

[@CrimeVid]

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.

[@upsidedowndog1256]

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]

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...

[@kennethbezanson4266]

Another great video! I don't know about buying an infill plane, but I'd be interested in a kit to make my own.

[@Nedw]

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).

[@oscar38]

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.

[@davewest6788]

Thanks Rex. Love learning more about old tools.

[@psguardian]

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.

[@dave-qh7qr]

Great video👍👍👍 please keep history content coming. How about history of handsaws. A lot of makers out there.

[@AB-C1]

Great video again Rex! Cheers from London 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@shanksjeffcott8598]

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.

[@franciskisner920]

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.

[@mumblbeebee6546]

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!

[@michaelnorris4629]

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.

[@professor62]

One of your best, Rex! Verrrry interesting. Love these vids with historical context.

[@theeddorian]

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.

[@Mikey__R]

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.

[@scotsman7626]

This video is incredible, more please!

[@NAH1907]

Infill Planes are interesting piece of hand plane history, especially with how prevalent Stanley and Stanley copied planes there were during the time.

[@silamaleesri8661]

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

[@dmmflys]

Always enjoy ur videos and history lessons

[@tonygohagan2766]

I'd like to see a Tool Stories video on. . . the humble File and/or Rasp!

[@jacquessauvageau6256]

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!

[@MCsCreations]

Really interesting tool indeed, Rex! 😃 Thanks for the history lesson! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@aluyanoworkshop1166]

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!

[@vasky22]

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.

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@AnonymousUser1776]

You’re going to do a video on restoring that Spiers? Right? Please? Pretty please with wood shavings on top?

[@rebent]

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.

[@MrRogsmart]

Good one. More please.

[@DavZell]

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.

[@chrisp.76]

Love tool stories!

[@Mark-xl8gg]

The marking of tools was often undertaken by the union to which the craftsman belonged,this continued in the uk until the late seventies

[@RickyVonPooper]

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.

[@MrHerbie76]

I would like to see a video all about trammel points.

[@theidlehandsworkshop3884]

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 !!!

[@markp6062]

Caught this on Patreon. Neat video, great info!

[@a_life_painted_with_color]

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.

[@ThunderSqueak]

for that grip, it makes me wonder if they were simply left handed and not using a weird grip

[@jinseong88]

loving the tool videos!! also making me feel better about using my own shopmade planes

[@donaldasayers]

Til very recently an online store in the UK had the castings for sale.

[@osliverpool]

"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.

[@Hawkeyelaotzu]

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.

[@patrickgallagherfrevdrtor8665]

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.

[@christopherharrison6724]

Really interesting as always thanks Rex.

[@noahfreeman8115]

loved this!

[@nodarikirtadze8220]

Now I want an Infill

[@rawr2u190]

Such an interesting video

[@patkeefe5834]

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 :)

[@rhyskenny6429]

Hey Rex if you need a theme song or jingle for this new series I'd love to make one for you! :)

[@markduggan3451]

Very interesting video.

[@terristroh3965]

Interesting. More!

[@marcbarash6045]

like the way you slipped in your router plane add. (I have one)

[@LaraCroftCP]

I'm still waiting for the Compassrose infill plane kit.

[@pitsnipe5559]

Awesome, please continue with these. Chisels?

[@GreenlandRobot]

The plane stop marks on the toe might have been during assembly trying to get the perfectly fit back piece installed.

[@D-B-Cooper]

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.

[@christopherblare6414]

Maybe the hammer marks on the front eere from someone adjusting the blade, but only a couple times before they decided not to.

[@ianpearse4480]

Very interesting.

[@pdloder]

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?

[@tommoeller7149]

Cool!

[@RyanJBarnard]

Rex is there any chance of you making a kit for your tool business?

[@oncomics1128]

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

[@Raye938]

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?

[@alangknowles]

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]

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...

[@jamesnurgle6368]

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]

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

[@brbilheimer]

I went down the eBay rabbit hole last weekend. Got myself a cast iron saw vise for $35 with shipping. Needs a little cleanup but no major work.

[@dlevi67]

One thought re: planing stop marks - looking at antique furniture, in the 19th century makers tended to use much thinner sections for e.g. drawer linings than we would do today. This would make hitting the stop with the front of the plane a much easier/more frequent event. Is it what happened? I don't know - I do know that it's what happens to me (my planes) when I repair stuff; then again, I'm not the best restorer...

[@stephencram3940]

My thoughts exactly

[@Vincent-S]

Not doing my desire to make a dovetailed mitre plane any good, Rex XD Luckily the soles on later Spiers mitres used a diagonal joint instead of a tongue and groove and others had just walls and sole as opposed to the bent horseshoe shape, according to some research

[@raphaelluckom1109]

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]

How did they use to get the handles and parts so smooth without sandpaper? Carving/scraping?

[@mongocrock]

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]

I think scrapers are most likely. Maybe a bit of "glass paper". Then decades of use really smoothed it out.

[@scottswineford6714]

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.

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

Romans had infill planes 2000 years ago yielding shavings down to 3 thou. More accurate than a modern machine workshop. The misnomered carpenter they called "Jesus" was in the thick of the Roman/Judeo culture and very possibly worked on Roman projects, and may very well have had an infill plane! What we do know of this man (possibly called "Y'shuah) is he was a well-known carpenter in His own right, was the son of a well-known carpenter and only did the anti-religion campaign for the last 3 1/2 years of his life until was killed because of it. I am not a Christian or affiliated with any religion but as a carpenter and joiner myself, I feel an affinity with that guy! I also agree with his staunch anti-religion teachings!

[@johanneswerner1140]

Plus don't forget the "don't be an ar**ho**" philosophy, the "golden imperative". Totally makes sense... (I'm a Christian, just not a church going one)

[@jimbo2629]

One metal plane for life and then pass it on. One coffin plane for a couple of years maybe.