New Planemaker Website

HI Folks
A quick heads-up! Bill Carter, UK planemaker , now has a website. Well worth checking out, Bill makes some beautiful (and very individual!) planes. He uses tenon saw brass backs for some - see his site for details!
Cheers
Philly

Show and Tell

The Yandles Woodworking show has come and gone - and it was a good one!
As my first time on "the other side of the bench" it was quite an eye opener. Hopefully I didn't embarrass myself too much but I am looking forward to my next show (West Dean College at the end of May) when hopefully I shall present a more "knowing" display :)

I was very fortunate to share my bench with Woodworking Guru David Charlesworth - he was a true gent and he helped me get through the weekend a little easier - thanks David! Also, I was ably assisted on the Saturday by Mike Riley and Tony Sutton (of Good Woodworking and UK Workshop fame) The guys were good enough to make piles of shavings, answer questions and do the occasional iron sharpening marathon - many thanks Gents!

So with a few days under my belt to reflect I'm back in the workshop making more planes - I have a few new models in the works that should be ready to show soon. And hopefully I'll get some more guitar progress this weekend.

Cheers
Philly

Strings and Things

Hi Folks
Been making real progress on the guitar project (although the Wife is getting suspicious when I keep disappearing off to the workshop). Finished the soundboard yesterday (that's the top) so I have to move onto the back next, whilst preparing for the toughest part - hot bending the sides. More on that when the time comes.........
Here are two more pics of the Madox hollow plane. The crispness of the construction still amazes me - don't forget, this was made with hand tools! And the stock is still straight as a die - the amount of wooden planes I have looked at that are banana shaped tells me that this guy really new his stuff!
The Yandles Woodworking Show is this weekend - where did the time go!?? I am beavering away in the workshop making stock for the show - hopefully there will be plenty for people to see, as well as a prototype 70 degree supersmoother ;)
Cheers
Philly

Lucky Find

Had a bit of luck today and came across a moulding plane stamped with the "Madox" name. It caught my eye due to the extra length of its stock, being longer than the rest of planes in that pile. It is a hollow plane, size 1, so its pretty narrow. I was pretty excited to inspect it and was most impressed with its sharp construction. And for a plane that is 250 years old (give or take) it is amazing how well preserved it was - guess its small size meant it didn't get used much?

The guitar (codenamed "Weissy") is coming along. I finished thicknessing the top plate tonight and then cut out the recess for the rosette. A pretty hair-raising exercise that went well - a scalpel blade and nail defined the edges (somewhat quieter than a router!!) andI removed the rest using my dinky little L-N router. I'll glue it in tomorrow when my heart slows down......;)

Cheers
Philly

Axe to Grind........

HI Folks
I've been beavering away in the workshop trying to get myself together for the upcoming Yandles show. Planes left, right and centre! But I'm trying to steal a few minutes a day to work on a side project (or two!)
A guitar. Now, a lot of you may know I play guitar. I've made a solid body electric (a PRS style) but never tried an acoustic. So I finally ordered a set of plans from Stewart-Macdonald for a Weissenborn style lap steel guitar. An interesting acoustic guitar - it is played sitting down with the guitar flat on its back on your lap.
I've used timbers that I have in stock - sycamore for the top and paduak for the back and sides. All quartersawn and dried in my workshop for about four years. I cut 3.5mm slices on the bandsaw - fun cutting five foot long by 10 inch tall slices! Glad I fitted that new blade.......
I've jointed and bookmatched the top pieces and have glued them up. Just need to get them to final thickness (2.5mm) and then I can start "building"!
Cheers
Philly