18th century Hand Plane (and other tool) Reproductions

Unlike the factory manufactured tools of the 19th century, the tools of the colonial period reflect the unique personality of the joyners, planemakers, and other craftsmen who made them. Hand plane dimensions were not yet standardized and the details of ornamentation varied with the maker. The following tools are patterned after 18th century originals or made in a style representative of tools from the period. They are all working tools, used in my personal work and for the purpose of demonstrating the 18th century joyner's trade. Like most New England hand planes from the period, most of mine are made from yellow birch.

Plow Plane Inspired by the 18th c. plane made by Thomas Nixon of Framingham, Massachusetts
(Presently owned by the Framingham Historical and Natural History Society)

Body: 10 1/4" long, 3 1/2" high
Material: Yellow Birch

Completed June, 2006

Casing or "Thumbnail" Plane

Body: 10 1/4" long
Material: Yellow Birch

Cornice Plane

Body: 13 1/2" long
Iron width: 4"
Materials: Body & tote, maple; wedge, yellow birch

Iron tapered and worked at the "Old Chelmsford" Garrison House blacksmith shop.

Thanks to Paul Windt for his guidance and assistance.

Completed January, 2010

Complex Molding Plane Reverse Ogee and Astragal

Inspired by a mid-18th century plane made by Cesar Chelor of Wrentham, Massachusetts

Body: 10 3/8" long
Iron width: 1 3/16"
Material: Yellow Birch

Reverse ogee and astragal plane, another view

Reverse ogee and astragal plane, end view

Reference: The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Assoc., 59, no. 1 (March, 2006): 22, 23.

Completed February, 2010

Rabbet Plane

Body: 10 1/8" long
Iron width: 1 1/16"
Material: Yellow Birch

Completed June, 2011

Complex Molding Plane Square Ovolo Cove and Astragal

Inspired by a field transition molding profile in the Faulkner House, Acton, Massachusetts

Body: 10 1/8" long
Iron width: 1 1/16"
Material: Applewood

Square ovolo cove and astragal plane, end view

Completed September, 2011

Bit Brace

Reproduced from an original 18th c. brace in my collection

Length: 15"
Material: Yellow Birch

Completed April, 2012

Ogee

Inspired by a mid-18th century plane made by John Walton of Reading, Massachusetts

Body: 10 3/8" long
Iron width: 3/4"
Material: Yellow Birch

Completed November, 2012

Carcass Saw

Inspired by a late-18th century back saw design

Blade length: 12"
Height: 3 7/8"
12 tpi rip
Handle material: Beech

Completed February, 2013

Handsaw

Reproduced from an early to mid-18th century Dalaway handsaw

Overall length: 26 1/2"
Blade length: 22 1/4"
6 tpi, peg filed with fleam
Handle material: Beech
Recycled saw blade

See The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Assoc., 66, no. 3 (Sept, 2013): 112 for my detailed description of both the original Dalaway saw and this reproduction.

Completed June, 2013

Thanks to Carl Davis for the generous loan of this important example of 18th c. British saw making.
For more detailed images of the original, see the Dalaway saw details page.