Do Bronze Knobs Make You Plane Better

[@tomengel8833]

I ordered one of each. They arrive on Saturday. PARTY TIME!

[@iainmcculloch5807]

In British English (I'm not sure if it's also true in American or Australian English), the phrase "... with brass knobs on" means something more or something better. There's probably a reason for that! ;-) So now we can have hand planes with brass (OK, bronze) knobs on. Which just has to be a good thing.

[@BrianRust89]

You know this isn’t a new concept. I’m the early 1900’s there were several small foundries that made production brass/bronze knobs. The coolest of which sported a spring tension screw that had something like a Schrader valve on the end of it. There was a hole drilled on the sole of the plane. The knob would hole oil in them and when you pressed the screw of the knob down it would release oil down through the hole on the sole and would oil the base of the plane while using it. For tropical woods or harder woods. It is one of the coolest plane accessories I have ever seen. A friend of mine has one functioning on a plane and has another one which is just the knob and inner workings. Very very cool stuff!!

[@reedplanes728]

Heavy planes have always been my go to plane. Thanks James for the video and to all who have asked me to make the knobs. It is great to read that a lot of you also like heavy planes.

[@lincolndickerson1293]

As always thanks for all you do. Bronze is harder, less likely to ding, scratch… than brass. Bronze is more likely to fracture for the same reason. I really can see that being a hand plane issue. Often a heavier object can be easier to control because it is less susceptible to slight changes in forces. Therefore, I think it would be great for planing. I believe it is one of the reasons Rob Cosman prefers a 5 1/2 though he has never said so that I remember. There are always extremes but a little more weight could be better for things like reducing chatter and delay with odd or alternating grain. Overall I think it is definitely worth a try.

[@wiseoldfool]

Interesting insight! Subtle ergonomic differences are often what makes one tool feel better than another, and each to his or her own. I have fond memories of "Bedknobs and broomsticks". I bet J K Rowling watched it more than once!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

We wore out that VHS as a kid.

[@Heseblesens]

I would love to have one of my planes set up with a short bronze knob. Will definately put it on my Christmas list...

[@backyardhobbiest]

Now we will be waiting on the bronze tote for the counter balance. I will definitely be ordering one. Thanks James.

[@professor62]

They look fabulous! I think I would like the extra weight.

[@ianpearse4480]

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is one of my favourite films. Now I am in trouble because the magic touch is so cool. What happens when you put the bedknob back on the "plane", speak in a clear voice, tell it where you want to go, tap it three times, turn it a quarter to the left? Christmas comes but once a year. LOL.

[@giveemtheboot5123]

I plan on casting and drilling out my own. Will share a video if it works out. Also, love Bednobs and Broomsticks

[@reedplanes728]

mine are cast with all the holes. Love to see what you come up with, please let me know and good luck!

[@TheDistur]

Bronze knobs for everything!

[@JasonQuackenbushonGoogle]

my ex brother in law is a brass knob, and his head was very flat. so this tracks for me.

[@egbluesuede1220]

Jeff is an evil genius...Luv that guy

[@reedplanes728]

Wow thanks, but some how my wife does not see me that way!

[@myrawright282]

Just catching up on all your videos! ❤️

[@danielbackley9301]

Might I suggest that it having them cast becomes to difficult contact a CNC machine shop and see if they will do a small run for you.

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty interesting indeed, James! 😃 They definitely look sweet! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@jonathanlillpopp2869]

James, I like the idea! Thanks, as always, for the great video.

[@mattf9096]

I wonder if there's a market for a simple bronze "insert" that could be used with a wooden knob with a larger hole drilled through it. That way someone who might be interested in some added weight but either wont give up the hand feel of wood, or doesn't want quite as much added weight can have the best of both worlds. It would be cheap enough to produce, the modification would be minimal and you could offer different weights to suit the customers taste.

[@standswithfish]

Well, you have a lot of brass to change knobs!

[@labrat7357]

I would prefer to see the knobs made of cast aluminium like the totes that are made for Stanely planes, a cast knob would be better as it would have the sand cast texture..I have only ever seen one aluminium front knob on a plane and it was a one of machined from an aluminium bar. It was shaped the same as the early low knobs and polished and slippery to hold.

[@mbrain03]

@6:09 I learned that lesson when I was about 13

[@matthewbrady5214]

Next week you should paint red racing strips on them to see if the go faster

[@reedplanes728]

I have done that and you get a 6.84% improvement

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Idk about better but cooler most definitely

[@timothymallon]

Not to be a nerd but I'm going to be. Brass is copper and zinc. Bronze is copper and tin. Bronze is stronger and less malleable than brass, but brass is so much prettier when polished. Either way, these knobs look great! And I will be buying...after my birthday in a couple weeks...when it's safe to shop for myself again! Haha

[@Hansenomics]

Will Jeff be making bronze totes?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

He is mentioned it, but we'll see what the future holds. The problem with totes is there are a lot of different ones

[@Hansenomics]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo this is true but he could focus on the most numerous types first. MJ at JustPlaneFun has a wealth of knowledge on SB typology. Maybe a marvel team up in the works? 😀

[@mm9773]

I heard he’s looking into ivory.

[@Hansenomics]

@@mm9773 unlikely

[@thomasgreen8532]

I would imagine that they would work best on a # 5 or smaller. Much larger than that and the extra weight is counter productive.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I feel the same the weight change on larger planes is far less in proportion.

[@warrenmunn3224]

If you're planning down a thin piece of stock (edge you're planning) do you find they are less or more likely to rock side to side? Heavier tools are often better for me but only up until a point.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I find it a little bit easier to keep on track as more mass makes it keep going the way you put it. But as to balancing it it's about the same.

[@user-bz8es4qw7n]

I hate how brass smells, but bronze I’m not sure about. Does your hands smell funky after using them?

[@reedplanes728]

I have never noticed a smell on my hands from my Bronze planes and I have been using them for about 40 years

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have not noticed a smell at all from my use.

[@dannythed]

Do these fit lie-nielsen planes?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have not tried them, but it should as they kept the same measurements.

[@adamwhiteson6866]

Get some made of solid gold. Your planing will be amazing.

[@thewalnutwoodworker6136]

I have been mucking around with investment casting, how bad of an idea would a bronze tote be?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Jeff has talked about playing with those. The problem with totes is there are a lot of different styles and sizes. The knobs are easy as there's only two. It would definitely be fun to experiment with.

[@thewalnutwoodworker6136]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo I'm going to make some to see how it works!

[@reedplanes728]

@@thewalnutwoodworker6136 I am holding off making them and would love to know how yours come out.

[@thewalnutwoodworker6136]

@@reedplanes728 I would be happy to send over a casting after I make the wax mold for it. I am currently waiting for my silicone to cure around the tote and knob of my No 4.

[@reedplanes728]

@@thewalnutwoodworker6136 Pictures would be fine. I model my objects in CAD then add about 9% to the volume for a final dimension to account for shrinkage. I have the model 3D printed and that is what I have cast.

[@lyster1ne681]

You know, I think you might be surprised by the lie Nielsen bronze smoothers. Yes, they are available in iron which is fine, but had the same mindset as you before in not liking heavy planes. And I still don’t like heavy planes…. For some tasks. I was given a bronze #4 as a graduation present, and my god it’s a fantastic plane. That extra weight really does work for fine smoothing jobs, and especially in really hard woods like live oak i find it actually reduces fatigue because I don’t have to fight so hard to keep an even cut. Plus, it’s a non issue for me with a climate controlled shop, but for those in a garage or similar the lack of surface rust on nice cast iron surfaces is a really nice luxury.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have used them quite a bit. they are nice, but.. just did not like the general feel of it. just my personal feel.

[@Hansenomics]

First! It’s been awhile.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Congrats. It's nice being on top.

[@relentlessmadman]

I wish I had money to spend fiddiling with my knobs!!!!!??????!

[@philaandrew100]

Mmmmmm. Bronze knobby things for planes.. What's not to like?

[@mm9773]

When your friend makes really cool hardware and then one day he goes “hey, how about bronze knobs?” I’ve heard less convincing sales pitches, but I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a less convinced one - thanks for being honest, James. I’d put it this way: if I found a plane with a bronze knob, the first thing I’d do is replace it with a wooden one.

[@josephhaddakin7095]

I say No. Wood looks so much better.

[@snh_lname]

Brass or bronze?

[@LaraCroftCP]

Oh, i cant have metal handles at all (expect my lathe) they are too cold!

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Bread is copper and zinc, as bronze is copper and tin

[@tomsutherland5205]

Brass is not the same as bronze.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That is what I said in the video.

[@WoodByWright]

Find them here: www.woodbywright.com/shop