Planemaker’s floats

[Philip Davies]

There was a post recently of a useful swivelling vice, which was holding a tapered rasp, or float, in its jaws.
Here are floats I’ve made. If you do not have such a vice, see my next post.

To make these, simply procure a rasp, preferably one for carbody repair, as shown above, and cut it into strips, using an angle grinder. Hope you can see this in the picture.
This is easier if it’s annealed, which you can do by resting it in a hot barbecue until it’s cooled. Hardening is not so simple. Heating it to a cherry colour can be done in the next barbecue, but a cold water quench may well snap it. If it’s breezy, the air will harden it sufficiently. I read that this was the method used in Toledo for their famous swords.

The handle is from an umbrella.

[DIYer]

Thanks Philip Davies! We've added your Planemakers Float to our Woodworking category,
as well as to your builder page: Philip Davies's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Planemakers Float by Philip Davies

tags: plane