Norris No. 1 Infill Panel Plane By Gabardi & Son

Filed under: Gabardi & Son Toolworks, Panel Planes
Tagged: Gabardi & Son, Gunmetal, Panel Plane, Rosewood Infill, Steel

Description

A brand spanking new Norris No. 1 dovetailed infill panel plane in naval brass and steel by Matt Hodgson at Gabardi & Son in Salt Lake City, Utah. This plane is infilled with 40 year old Brazilian rosewood -- once destined to be made into guitar backs as lutherie is one of Matt's other passions.

This panel plane is 13" long and 2-1/2" wide. The cutting iron is a 2-1/4" wide high carbon steel iron made by Ron Hock, and the bed is set at 49 degrees -- which is a fraction under york pitch. The screw for the lever cap is custom cut with a 14tpi Acme thread.

The sole of the plane is made from 0-1 carbon steel for added toughness, though I'm unsure if the steel has then been hardened after the peening process? If so it would make the sole virtually indestructible, wear-wise. Let's face it the old masters just used mild steel or, in some cases, wrought iron, and a lot of these planes have survived for 150 to 200 years. Matt must be going for a legacy of 500 years or so. Not a bad investment if you ask me.

The infill has been finished off with ten coats of a linseed oil and varnish mix, and then polished with wax. This attention to detail helps bring out the colour and figure of the rosewood.

Matt's approach to planemaking is simple - make each one by hand using only hand tools. Of course this means that the work is done much more slowly, but there's no need to rush anyway when making infill planes. One of the benefits of working entirely by hand is that you're always looking at what your making at all times. This way the work is under constant quality control. The maker also develops more of a "bond" with the piece than, say, a production line worker might do. There's much less nose and dust as well.

Check out more of Matt's planes at the Gabardi & Son Infill Planes website.