Making A Router Plane

A small router plane is one of the handiest hand planes you can have in your tool box. With this tool, you can reach down into dado, groove, or mortise and shave the bottom to fine tune the joinery. It’s also useful for making inlays, setting hinges, and installing other hardware. Nick shows how to make a handsome, capable router plane from a scrap of wood, a piece of plastic, and an Allen wrench!
If you would like the plans for this router plane -- including full-size patterns for the base and handle -- find them at workshopcompan... .
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Para nuestros espectadores que no hablan inglés: los subtítulos se pueden configurar en cualquier idioma. Haga clic en "CC" (Subtítulos) en la parte inferior de la pantalla para activarlos. Haga clic en el engranaje (Configuración) y aparecerá un menú. Haga clic en "Subtítulos/CC" y aparecerá otro menú. Haga clic en "Traducir automáticamente" y aparecerá un menú de idiomas. Haga clic en el idioma que desea para los subtítulos y volverá al video; los subtítulos aparecerán en el idioma que haya elegido. Si estos subtítulos cubren parte de la acción, coloque el cursor sobre los subtítulos, presione y mantenga presionado el botón izquierdo del mouse, luego arrastre los subtítulos a donde quiera que estén en su pantalla. Suelte los botones del mouse y permanecerán allí.
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And thank you so much for your time and interest!

[@bwhite661]

This guy would be a blast to have as a shop teacher. You would learn a ton and have fun at the same time!

[@jhawk1897]

I agree! I want to hang out with him and drink a beer and chew tobacco!

[@brianbailey462]

@@jhawk1897 lol

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@jhawk1897 We'd have to drink a lot of beer before you could convince me to chaw.

[@memphetic]

I thought that too, til he said "rub it out til it's nice and smooth and just a pleasure to touch".

[@scottcarpenter910]

Agreed

[@christianscustoms6429]

This is becoming one of my favorite channels! A total hidden gem that I’m very happy to have found

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Glad you happened upon us. Thanks for saying.

[@skylord8625]

@@WorkshopCompanion He's absolutely right. Passing on generational knowledge is an art in and of itself.

[@ryanintopeka]

Same. Nick is SUCH a phenomenal resource.

[@baconscoobysnacks3135]

Hidden gem? This channel has 100k subscribers

[@christianscustoms6429]

@@baconscoobysnacks3135 it didn’t a month ago

[@samspade4634]

Brilliant, truly brilliant. Every time I watch a video from you, I learn something really great! Thank you so much and great idea.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Kind of you to say; you're most welcome.

[@LitoGeorge]

Humorous, helpful and officially my favorite uncle on KZbin. What a delight.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@theptownpunk]

I second that.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@theptownpunk Thanks for the kind second.

[@theptownpunk]

@@WorkshopCompanion Enjoyed watching the video just thought it was great all around. Nice to see someone that makes you want to build something.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@theptownpunk "...makes you want to build something." Believe me, I'm just an amateur at that. But I'm married to the all-time grand champion.

[@captainsawdust1]

Nick, I love my 271 and have used it for 45 years hanging doors and installing latch and strike plate mortises etc. Now those cabinet doors I'm making will be another 4 hours behind schedule as I make it's bigger brother. Love the smidge definition too. Thanks.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

You're welcome, and we apologize for the disruption.

[@NVOLIKOS]

You are now officially my favorite woodworker on YT. Your tips, tricks , and DIY are the best. Thank you so much!

[@TrainingHandsAcademy]

Just found you... love your style of teaching!! Keep it up!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@jadechan13]

You my friend just gained another subscriber. Well put together video .. 👏 👏

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@jadechan13 Thanks for the kind words.

[@handyhomebrewnetwork2142]

No idea how I ended up here but this man is the coolest woodworker on KZbin!

[@naioti]

Love this, I’m going to make one. Also love that they designed the tape to be a smidge thick, handy trick!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@carlmclelland7624]

One of the best videos I've seen yet, Nick. THANK YOU! By the way, in 60 years of wood and metal working, I've never once thought about the fact an Allen wrench is made of tool steel. THAT comes as a "Tip... of the decade!" I've got one of the Stanley hand planes - a multi-generational 'hand-me-down.' NOW, I know how to finish the job!

[@BenNawrath]

You had me at “good enough for government work” haha. Great video! I really enjoyed your style and informative explanation of things. Consider me a new subscriber. Only thing I would add is you can always make a new base if yours gets scratched up! And that was only a fraction of the work you put into this tool!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

"Good enough for government work," was one of my grandfather's favorite sayings -- and he did government work as a maintenance engineer for the US Air Force. Thanks and welcome.

[@myss520]

@@WorkshopCompanion That phrase originally was a compliment because of the stringent quality requirements in government contracts. Not so much today.

[@BenNawrath]

@@WorkshopCompanion one of my dad’s favorites too! Probably from his father, who was a postmaster haha. One of my music professors in college always said close enough for jazz…

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@myss520 I always took it as a compliment from Granddad. He's be up a ladder and shout a measurement to me. I cut the board and run it up to him, then wait for the inevitable "good enough for government work" to tell me that the board fit.

[@bellathebus95]

Ladys and gentleman, the Bob Ross of carpentery

[@stalkerspike]

That is an amazing tool I've never heard of, that now I can't believe isn't apart of every shop. Feels like lost technology the way you tell the story too. Awesome video!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@phyllisfager6689]

Now I know what to do with that ammo box of Allen wrenches

[@carpenter1138]

Great video from a Fantastic Instructor - you're the perfect combination of teacher and storyteller. You paint a picture of not just what it is but what you can do with it. I've been teaching woodworking for 30 years and I always love seeing others who do it with passion and reverie. I knew the way you summed up the router plane in one captivating sentence that I would love the video. Good work sir!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks muchly.

[@ecalzo]

Simply Brilliant ... WOW Sir you're Super .. Hi from italy

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Hi back from Ohio.

[@Rogerquin]

This showed up in my recommendations. I subscribed two minutes into the video. You, Sir, have a gift of teaching. So masterfully done!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Many thanks, but let's spread the credit around a little. The expertise is mine, but the delivery is largely due to Travis and his refined sense of pacing and timing.

[@matthiasjagdm3949]

You are a mix of a teacher , a uncle and santa

[@jasondoust4935]

Thanks again Nick! I've wanted a router plane for a while now, but could never justify the cost as it's a "nice to have"tool for me. This little guy however, can literally be made out of stuff, with tools that I already own. (Okay, I'll scrounge a scrap of acrylic from work.) Plans purchased! Cheers, Jason

[@EnnTomi1]

3 mins into video, already learned couple new trick, old ginger are indeed spicy. xD

[@JDDupuy]

Glad I found you channel. Bought your Wood Working Wisdom book back in 97 along with about 5 others. They all sit in my woodshop library still. Where did the last 25 years go. You have more grey hair than me but not by much. I learned so much from you from your books long before the internet and KZbin. I have 2 router planes one small and one large. Love them for hinge work.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks for saying...and reading!

[@stevenboyd593]

Informative, succinct, a bit of humor for spice and voila!

[@DaJoPaHo]

I watched this video "judiciously" and thoroughly liked it!. 1st time viewer.....and subscribed! thanks for the great content!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome. And thanks for the kind words.

[@gregzoller9003]

So much fantastic info! This guy is also immediately likable-great teacher!

[@christopherforsyth5284]

Well, I just found my next Project !!!! Thanks !!!!!

[@jacobf9508]

Hello Mr.Workshop Companion can you do a video discussing as of yet unknown to me characteristics of plywood. I think I might begin there with my wood working journey. 6 ply? MDF? Melamine? Particle Board?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

We'll get there. In time I hope to cover everything that was in my Workshop Companion book series.

[@joecallahan3379]

Great video, well done presentation, keep your style it works

[@stephent1117]

A smidge is twice the thickness of a gnats whisker in the UK,

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Imperial or metric whisker?

[@R__A]

This is so helpful. Do you happen to know of a jig that can make holes any size you want? I’m talking super specific sizes (within half of a millimetre of tolerance) as I’d love to be able to press fit my 💍ring cores into any type of exotic hardwood (with some glue to help of course) but I can only get so accurate with my forstner bits. Unfortunately I don’t have a lathe, if there’s some kind of jig to help drill and then stretch a hole to a very specific size I’d be blown away. Thanks for reading, really love your videos! Cheers!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

If you have a precise calipers and a sander/grinder, you can sand/grind ordinary spade bits to precise diameters. You will have to make a jig to hold them and guide then past the wheel or belt. And when properly sharpened, spade bits will leave a very clean hole.

[@terryherrera5252]

AWSOME !!!! I’ll attempt ! One !!🖖🏼🖖🏼

[@seanlandsman7516]

Following solely for the impressive hammer twirl at the end. Haha j/k video was entertaining AND educational!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@elijahronald3494]

I don’t watch many wood working videos and I was going to skip this video, but I didn’t because of how enthusiastic he was about this he just so happy

[@neildunbar1231]

I agree with everything SamSpade said. I have used the word "smidgin" for over 60 years but this is the first time I have heard its true meaning. Thank you

[@WorkshopCompanion]

The American smidgin (or, in the English spelling, smidgeon) is actually the Imperial substitute for the metric smidge. Here's the equivalency: 1 smidge = 1.418 smidgeons = 0.0974875 bits. It's important to note that a skosh is sometimes substituted for smidge, but a skosh is actually a measurement of volume. Or a herd of gnats; I'm not sure which.

[@joeleonetti8976]

I have seen a lot of make your own routers. Using the clear plastic is pretty clever. On my large metal hand router plane, I put on some wood to make a slightly larger base and prevent scuffing would see from the metal on wood. I might go and swap out that wood for some clear acrylic based on what I saw here. Thanks.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@jayportland]

Okay, I have to admit, that was pretty dope.

[@archloy]

One thing you could mention on grinding hardened steel : you plunge it into water, grind and look at the iron. When the water begins to evaporate, it reach 100°C (approx), go plunge it again. 100°C is not dangerous for hardened, water will never change it's property (OK, it will not work deep into the ocean, but I think, we can forgive that while we can't live in this conditions of temperature and pressure ;) ) so it's a good reminder for beginners, at least :) Love the hammer trick at the end :p And thanks for that !

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Good tip. Most welcome.

[@PureBloodWNC]

Finally a smidge explained!!!

[@frankmayer559]

As a guy, living in the metric part of the world, i have to thank you for telling both, inch and metric lengths, so i don‘t have calculate that… This is the first of your videos i am watching and i have to say, you are doing and showing exactly those things i am interested in. Great work! Thank you for that good content!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@raydriver7300]

I’ve said this before but, just in case she didn’t believe it before, take a screenshot of my reply and show it to your wife: you are a very clever man and this is yet another occasion when I go to bed less stupid 🌞

[@WorkshopCompanion]

My work here is done...for today.

[@rontocknell5400]

The most valuable tool in the workshop is a Nick Engler. No, it isn't a device for engling nicks. It's a KZbin channel run by a traditional craftsman who gives us the fruits of his decades of experience... and you don't even need a hook to hang it on. Thanks Nick. You just saved me another chunk of cash.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Just doin' my job.

[@38unknownhinson]

Good enough for government work he says

[@rigell2764]

Really enjoy the channel. Thank you for sharing

[@WorkshopCompanion]

You're most welcome.

[@E1nsty]

Nice, one could concievably thread the long side of the wrench after some anealing to get some smooth control over the depth of cut by using a wing nut as a stop.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Interesting suggestion; worth trying. For anyone who would like to try this, you simply heat up the long arm to a dull red and let it cool slowly to anneal (soften) the metal. This would probably affect the short arm as well, and you'd have to re-harden it after the threading. I'd use a knurled knob rather than a wing nut simply because I like the way they look.

[@jt5747]

I trust this guy just because of his hair.

[@misspugandpomeranian]

😂

[@lesconrads]

I love the atmosphere you deliver as well as the content you show in this! I hate how expensive these router planes are. You can get No5 planes for something like 20 $/€, but nobody makes cheap china router planes.

[@garysimmons1631]

That was really cool. I like learning these things.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Me too.

[@DuffArt]

Fascinating and very informative. Thanks

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@MrMarkpeggy]

Wow Nick, what a great video! Thanks for the excellent information. It is always a pleasure to see you.

[@neilhay2155]

Nothing like watching a master craftsman making a job so easy to do, and with style. Thanks for sharing.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks for saying.

[@Micro-Moo]

As a subscribed user, I already saw some great things, but this plane looks like a stroke of genius to me. Say, if I had such a tool a week or two ago, I would do a much better job. I have two questions: 1. I found some new handheld router planes on Amazon, offered by Cowryman. Do you know them? What do you think of them? 2. I have an idea of some other tool to be made out of a hex key (Allen wrench). How difficult it may be to drill a hole through its side? What would it take to do it? Thank you!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

I have never used a Cowryman plane, but the tool angle seems extremely steep. I notice that both the photos and the video shows it cutting across the grain, cleaning out a dado in which the sides have already been cut by a saw. There is no example showing it in an operation where it cuts with the grain. As for drilling an Allen wrench, good luck -- you're drilling through a steel as hard as the bit itself. Your best approach might be to anneal the metal -- heat it red hot, then let it cool slowly. That might soften the steel just enough to let you poke a hole. Afterwards, you'd have to quench and temper the steel all over again so it would hold a cutting edge.

[@Micro-Moo]

@@WorkshopCompanion Got it. Thank you a lot for the answers!

[@two-sense]

6:09 "should you get the steel too hot, there's no need to wail and gnash your teeth" or to put it differently, "there's no need to lose your temper". I'll see myself out.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

I need you on my writing staff.

[@rebornspawn]

You got a new subscriber in me. 👍

[@nicholasflint4244]

Thanks for the template, we enjoy your vlogs here in Denmark

[@WorkshopCompanion]

And we appreciate your kind words here in Ohio.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

That was certainly new to me. I also like your style. Thank you!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@Rocket62AL]

Nick, Nick, Nick ... I wish we lived near each other, you'd be my best friend. This is fantastic and exactly what I need to do some really artsy plays in some of my work. I'm going to buy your plans, build it, and even experiment with some variations of the plane iron to do precision work I've been doing with a V gouge. Thank you very much Sir, you are my hero! BTW I watch lots of your videos and you have taught this 62 year old man many valuable things. For that I am very thankful

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome...and thanks for the kind words.

[@bobwebberkc]

The best part of learning from Nick is he is way cool and I actually put his techniques to use! Thanks Nick!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

I appreciate you saying that. The jigs and fixtures that we deem fit for video are ones that I use frequently myself. In most cases these designs have evolved in my shop for ten, twenty, some as long as fifty years. They are not only capable and useful, but as simple to build as I can make them.

[@bradleytuckwell4854]

Always love your content thanks for sharing and great idea using a hex key. I think I’ll give that a go

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Good luck!

[@alexanderlorenz1111]

Well done your government work 😉

[@mpschaefer1]

Great job, thanks for sharing the Intelligence.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@WalterMelons]

Hammer spin was clutch. I’m subscribed

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Welcome. And if you liked that, I spin a bench plane and a lathe chisel in other vids.

[@rodpotts2666]

Great video! And very easy to fallow.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@centuryclassic7669]

Ive almost lost when you said that little sucker lol what a great build though

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@kevinloughman3953]

Great video. Thanks

[@Momoka7]

Wow I am the 7th like! Lucky number. I need to get around to making one of those!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

I agree. It's one of those tools that once you have it, you wonder how you did without it.

[@cliveclapham6451]

Like your router better than other homemade ones, neat hammer trick 🎯🤭😂🤣

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@polrbr734]

This is the best, simple, homemade tool I've seen for skilled woodworkers.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@Kyoko123]

This is so neat!

[@NianticRiverWoodcraftingChrisN]

Thank you for this. You make it look so easy!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

It's not hard to make it look easy when it really is. But kind of you to say.

[@chuckbailey6835]

"Good enough for government work " that gave me a good chuckle I haven't heard that in a long time

[@ChiTownTino]

Flipin’ fantastic video!

[@JaspisB]

Please keep doing these videos! They're great, educational and very inspiring!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@knightclan4]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@sethwarner2540]

WELP! You've done it again! WELP could mean a dog being born, unless someone has exceded the likelihood of doing something with excessive, extreme, and repetetive superiority. In that rare case, you may refer to that person as WELP, by a smidge.

[@jessejohnson159]

Another simple but useful way to get what you want! Thanks!

[@wolfwood1669]

Verry, verry nice, i love this Work. Great!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Much thanks.

[@0dan56]

Thanks for the tip!!!

[@Duraltia]

Mhh... How about adding a lip to the bottom of the base that raises the plastic off the surface and thus prevents any scratches? You could CNC a small a like 2mm deep pocket above the chisel and then flame polish it to regain a clear view after it was milled out.

[@danielkruk212]

Awesome video, a pleasure to watch. We all have our things that make us cringe and the tempering process you prescribed sent chills down my spine……. For a second. That is not how you harden then temper tool steel….. Then I thought about it and now I’m curious to test and compare your method to “the right way” You definitely appear to be a craftsman and in this example you may have made your own gold, just please don’t try the same method on a knife lol. Looking forward to checking out your channel and to others remember if you do something and it works, ehh I guess it’s a right way. Thanks.

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

Smidge= 1/2 Skoch

[@garyrice764]

Love this guy! Finally we can all be in agreement to the measurement of a smidge!!

[@GTAHomeGuy]

Can you be my dad? Like really, nothing against my absent father, but I really feel we are cut from the same sock. So, book your ticket to Ontario Canada and tell me when to make a bed up!

[@Longnose154]

Wow, I just found you channel and I am hooked! It's a ton of fun to just watch and enjoy your humor whilst learning new tricks. You are indeed a Workshop Companion everyone would wish for. Thanks for the great work, keep it up!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@peternicholsonu6090]

Smidge....back in the day we used to have “1/16th and a bit.” Hanging suspended ceilings in Australia even long after we went metric.

[@disklamer]

Now I finally know what I should have used those lexan scraps for that I threw away last week. Thanks. Love the wax trick for “tempered hardening”.

[@oldmantwofour5561]

I could be wrong here, but I'm not sure you would want to quench in off the shelf MinWax Paste Wax. It contains turpentine and mineral spirits.💥🤕

[@Cypher791]

Nice hammer trick 🔨😎

[@xenobarbital]

It's now official, the hammer flourish is the woodworking equivalent of a mic drop at the end. Epic!

[@andymac345]

A smidge or as we say in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, a bawhair. 🙂

[@philsmith214]

Grannies tooth 👍 lovely bit of kit

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks. And for our non-British viewers, "bit of kit" is a tool or piece of equipment.

[@thedazzlingape2006]

ah the hex keys...poor poor hex keys, I used to indeed use them to make small bend chisels and router blades. then I got a blowtorch a metal vice and used highspeed steel blanks, vice them in get them hot then bash the crap out of them until its about a L shape. after that, get it to orange hot, dunk in oil or water and temper. takes about 30minutes. depending on how smart you are at sharpening. the blades will be incredible! staying sharp even longer than actually router irons.

[@ColinPittendrigh]

You're good at this

[@richarddefour5220]

Thanks a lot for this interesting trick. I'm not very fluant in english but understood what you were ewplaining.

[@lindashealingart]

Please make more long videos thank you. I hope everything is going OK with you

[@danielreed5199]

How can you expect Stan Lee to make something like that?!?! he died a few years back, it would be a marvel if he did though.

[@AndreiIR000]

00:15 - make it better than Stanley?! That shouldn't be hard :))) (I've had a lot of Stanley tools, most have been sold or thrown in the garbage)

[@joek1519]

i got a crazy request. Can you show how to make a beginners cutting board? with no table planers or table saw. Sorry i am just getting into wood working and have a lot of hand tools and nothing crazy yet!

[@well1by]

You are awesome sauce!

[@ronnewman8661]

I'm trying to buy the plans for the hand router planer but receive an error message when I click on buy now. How can I get the plans?

[@jamieturner4677]

Fantastic video. Been looking to make a router plane for a while, this helps greatly. Also, here in Scotland a smidge is a baw hair, and if really small it's a midges baw hair 😂😂 used all over Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@WorkshopCompanion]

That's just a smidge this side of boggin', I reckon. I'll bet we'd have a fair amount of beamers out there if they knew the translation.

[@robertbutler9008]

Today is my first time visiting your channel BUT won't be my last! You are an extraordinary instructor! Thanks very much.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Kind of you to say.