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Exclusive Video: Building the Bevel-Up Plane (Patreon)

Published:
2019-09-24 13:35:29
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Friends:

Several months ago, I wrote this post about trying to make a low-angle, bevel-up plane:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/22417386 

I had a lot of ideas for making this plane a reality, and I finally got them done. Hope you enjoy this tour though the DIY Low Angle Jack, Mark I. 

Mark II (and very likely Mark III, IV and V) will be along shortly. 

--Rex

Files

Previews only

Bevel-Up Plane Prototype

For my Patrons!

Comments

Alan Smith

Great project concept. You delivered once again!!! Thanks for the video

crister eriksson

cool idea! my infill plane i just finished (i put a picture in the community) is a low angled plane and i used corten steel for the sole and it works great! maybe you could bolt the aluminium to a corten sole. that would give you a super cheap plane and you only need flat pices of steel and aluminium. and it would be really easy to build if you own a tap and drill for the sides.

Matthew Leigh

Australian wood shoutout! I just bought a sanding disc for my angle grinder for the next time I need to flatten an end grain glueup

Frans van Ballegooijen

Great idea. Can't wait to see what you make of it. But have you thought about just using metal for the whole sole and wood for all the rest of the plain? Should be possible...

The Poor Man

Hey Rex, awesome video. Have you ever worked with Live Oak, or some of the subspecies of it? Specifically Willow Oak? The reason I ask is because that stuff is super tough and very hard to break even on lower angle edges. While I was in Florida I had Willow Oak everywhere around me and I got pretty good at using it and working with it - now if your wondering what this has to do with the price of rice; it's this: I freehand sharpen all my chisels and plane irons and before I gave up on jigs, because I didn't want to buy one and building one that was easily useable was a pain, I was using Willow Oak to try and build one and just to see how sharp I could make a chisel I actually cut a piece of Willow Oak to about 10°-13° and it held up wonderful even after I dropped it on the edge once. Also just a thought, what about rabbiting the piece of aluminum into the sides of the plane about 1/8"? Would help with the want to lever up at the mouth, and save a tiny bit of money as well the need to use pins, may have to use a very dense wood, again just a thought.

Michael Gross

I can't wait for the end product! I am one of those guys working with exotics and squirrelly grains and I always wanted a low angle plane but couldn't afford one, even with the employee discount when I worked at Woodcraft. I look forward to copying your soon to be successful creation!

James Casalino

Great video. This kind of project is exactly why I want to support you on patreon. This is not the type of thing a sponsor would pay for or that you could spend the time on, but such an awesome idea. Thanks for doing what you do!

Rex Krueger
>>27157425

I've never heard of "corten steel". Could you fill me in a little bit? Making my plane from separate parts is a good idea, but I'm hoping that using a piece of channel will save a lot of work. I think I'm a good enough metal-worker to tackle a traditional infill (although I'm not on your level) but I want a build for the average craftsperson with limited tools. I hope channel is the way to go. We'll see...

Rex Krueger
>>27159821

I'm afraid that if the sole and the sides aren't all one piece, then I'll just be back with the problem I have now; poor connection between the sides and sole, esp around the mouth. I think channel will work. Only one way to find out!

Rex Krueger
>>27159974

Actually, I lived in FL for 5 years and you're totally right about Live Oak. Amazing stuff. I honestly don't think any wood is going to stand up at this thickness, not under years of daily use. I've got purple heart, ipe, and lignum in my shop and I don't trust any of them in this application. But, this is all a learning process. I'm going to keep an open mind and keep trying things.

Matthew Leigh
>>27158232

I'm certainly looking forward to it. Given how much bauxite Western Australia produces it's practically a native wood itself

Ramin Chalili

Thanks Rex, for another great idea! I'll be waiting to see where this goes. The tool building projects are fun, creative and really interesting. Thanks for spending the time.

WhatMeWorry
>>27157425

Cor-Ten is the US Steel trademark. I found a description on Wikipedia under Weathering steel. It's an alloy that is very tough and used for shipping containers and railroad cars. It also rust but the rust forms a protective layer. If you see a rusty sculpture where the rust is part of the art, chances are good it is made out of corten.

Paul J Schneider

You mention "architectual grade" aluminum you found on eBay... what spec is it? 2000 series, 7000 series, other? Thank you for your videos!

Rex Krueger
>>27176591

The alloy is 6063, which is not the strongest ever, but I think it will work fine. We'll see!

A1BASE

You might also try either a bearing grade monomer plastic like Delrin, or a slab of carbon fiber. Both are extremely hard wearing, ultra stiff and relatively easy to work. You could make almost the entire ‘frog’ out of the plastic with very little trouble.

A1BASE
>>27159821

Traditional planes had the sides and soles as separate pieces which were dovetailed together then peened over. They’re absolutely beautiful but very tough to make for the amateur.

Nic Beurskens

This is a sweet project!! Looking forward to the prototype process!!!

Daniel Bohrer

I've never even thought about a low-angle plane being made out of wood, so this amazes me! :) I wonder if you could solve the issue with the aluminum sole piece by making it protrude left and right into the wooden cheeks with an upsided dovetail…?

Ryan Roberts

Intriguing, Might need to dust off some metalworking equipment and give this a try. Not that I need a low angle jack but if I can make one myself it sure would look nice in my collection

Omar Colocci

Hi Rex. I know the project is for a low angle BEVEL UP plane, but since the big deal with bevel up is the cutting angle (12º bed + 25º blade) if we build, let's say, a 30º bed in a wooden plane the cutting angle wood be shallower and it should offer the same benefits for end grain and compicated figure wood, right?

Rex Krueger
>>27226339

Interesting question! The answer is: "kinda". You're totally right about the geometry and I've built a plane just like you mention. Check out my older videos for the Hi-Tech, Low-Angle plane. But the bevel-up design eliminates the need for a chip-breaker and, more importantly, people WANT the bevel up plane and companies are charging a lot for them. I want to put that plane in people's hands for les$.

Rex Krueger
>>27199002

I think that would work, but the aluminum channel just came in the mail. I'm going to try that first.

William Allen

I use wooden planes a lot. I don't even use a hammer. I just tap the whole plane on the bench, back out, front in, left nose and right nose to adjust angle. Works great. I don't have a low angle wooden plane. Love that you built it from wood. Take a look at Stavros Gakos. He builds all kinds of planes at his home shop. One method he uses is he use brass. It is very easy to work. Anyway, take a look at his YouTube, at the very least it is really interesting.

Ethan Chitty
>>27226339

Did you consider stealing the same corian material from that video for this build? With that aluminum sole applied, you could use corian to make the flat center section (sandwiched between a wood top and an aluminum sole). The aluminum would potentially overcome the brittleness problem of the corian and still get the heft you wanted. Because the corian can be easily drilled, but not easily mortised, JB Weld in a nut into a hole for the handle rod and laminate a piece of wood above to mortise and secure the handle in place. You'd end up with something that looks similar to your Mark I sample, but with a corian strip laminated down the center.

Rex Krueger
>>27226339

I think Corian is a GREAT material, but this build has convinced me that aluminum just isn't the way to go. I think good old steel is the best choice, and brass and bronze are also good alternatives. Stay tuned; more plane-making maddness to come.