Drivel Starved Nation-
I am pleased to share the latest edition to the HP-10 Convertible Plane, which will allow you to cut coves/flutes and cores in four sizes.
Cutting flutes is an essential element of decorative woodworking. The Greeks and Romans were masters at employing flutes in both their architecture and furniture. Why you ask?
Texture typically adds depth and shadows–both create visual interest. Here’s a pic of some of the cuts you can make with our Cove/Core kits, they include a corner cove, flutes and a core cut;
We have never offered soles and irons that are commonly referred to as “rounds” to the traditionalists. I actually do not know why other than something else must have been bugging to get made first. We now will be making the following diameters in four sizes: 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ and 3/4″. All four of these sizes will allow you to make core cuts which is all the way to the diameter line.
The most common use for core cuts is the ability to create a cylindrical half diameter cut in two boards, regardless of length. When they are glued together, you have hole that would be impossible to drill. Projects that benefit from this technique include musical instruments, lamp making, and any other project where you need a hollow that cannot be drilled.
When combined with a guide fence, you can create 90 degree corner cove cuts which are a nice alternative to a square corner, which is often visually boring. I like corner cove cuts on simple picture frames, there is a cove on the inside corner and small chamfer on the outside edges of the frames below. (The little boy is now an executive expat in Mexico City and that little girl is about to bear her second child…)
Here’s a pic of the complete 4 size kit (you will be able to purchase singles too);
The irons are really cool, you simply hone the entire beveled face. Fast, easy and the larger two sizes have been cored so you you only need to hone the periphery of the face.
The many uses of these profiles include;
Fluting
Veining
Grooving
Ornamentation where a round bottom is desired
Drawer pulls
Musical instruments,
and whatever your imagination can conjure!
I’m going to do something with the smallest size that I can’t tell you about but I think you will find it fascinating… and yes, it involves electricity, maybe magnets too.
The pre-order window will open later this week – time to plant a holiday gift idea with your partner!
-John
John,
So you’re going to do something with the iron that involves electricity and people will find fascinating? I guess that means you’re going to try and get me to stick it in an outlet?
Great new profiles- bet they will make a nice groove to hold something like a pencil or a chopstick!
Rutager
Rutager,
Outlet? yes.
-John
John,
I have not used hollows and rounds, but have done a little reading about them and it appears that a person could make just about any type of decorative moulding with a set and a rabbet plane. If memory serves, there might also be a set of snipe bill planes too?
Now that you have the HP-10, which seems more capable of doing the scale needed for hollows and rounds than the HP-6 did, any plans to make a set?
Rutager
Well, our latest offering are hollows. Before you know it, there will be rounds!
John
Very nice addition to a really cool tool. Any chance you could say a little about the best way to sharpen these profiles?
That is what is happening! We will not do every size, but those that make the most sense from a practicality standpoint.
All of the profile irons for the HP-10 are bevel-up and there is no micro-bevel as on a rabbet or shoulder iron. So, sharpening is really easy, simply hone the bevel. When possible, we will “core” the center of the irons so you only need to hone the periphery of the iron. Simple, easy and fast.
-John