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Compass planes History Moulding planes Practical techniques Restoration

Circular restoration work on Høvelbenk blog

Hovelbank_1
The wonderful Høvelbenk blog is rapidly becoming a favourite of mine. Having recently found a Stanley No.20 circular plane, I’m keen to see a few in action and learn a bit more about what it can do. The latest post on Høvelbenk seems to be concerned with the restoration of a curved moulded arch over a historic door. The blog is Swedish, and I dearly wish I could read it in English, but the pictures are, as ever, nicely shot and edited. One very interesting shot shows planes which the writers seem to make (!), as part of the project. Wonderful stuff. I really hope this post makes it into their English category.

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Compass planes Hields

Hields wooden compass plane

Hields wooden compass plane
Wooden compass plane, made by Hields of Nottingham.

Picked up this beautiful compass plane as it cost next to nothing and I was so intrigued as to whether it would still work well. I can’t find much about Hields of Nottingham online, so if anyone has more information, I’d be pleased to know more. I need the right job to come up to try this plane out, but something will come up at some point no doubt. (Observe the deluded reality of the vintage tool collector).

I’m also slightly in the dark about how far the blade should protrude from the sole on these planes, and how the plane should be set-up. Again, if anyone has more info, beyond what for me, will be plain trial and error, please get in touch.

Hields wooden compass plane
Mathieson blade held in place by wooden wedge.
Hields wooden compass plane
Image shows blade protruding though sole and the basic curve of the sole, allowing work on a concave work piece. The adjustable front piece can be raised or lowered, effectively altering the radius the plane will work in.

Hields wooden compass plane

Hields wooden compass plane