Hello, I need some advice/help.

I have almost everything I need as far as hand tools go, except a couple of specialty planes. One of which is a router plane.

I know if i do as I plan to with my woodworking I will need one of them eventually, but the cost of a router plane is not and probably won't be in my budget, unless I purchase one of the cheap China made knockoffs on Amazon, which I'd prefer not.

I've been thinking of making one. I saw a video on YT of a guy making one using a large allen key for the blade. He heated it to red hot and let it cool, I assume annealing it, bent it out a bit and put a bevel on it. I think I could manage that, but the problem is tempering/heat treating the blade back to a level that it will hold a half decent edge. Not looking for stellar performance, just decent.

Does anyone here have any idea how I could go about it, with no fancy equipment, just a map gas or propane torch?

Thanks.

@steven newman!!

Look up Paul Sellers...as he did make one with a wood body and a chisel for a cutter...

12 minutes ago, steven newman said:

Look up Paul Sellers...as he did make one with a wood body and a chisel for a cutter...

Yes, I am a rabid fan.

He made what he calls a poor man's hand router; basically shoved a chisel thru a 2x4. That is what i am doing now when the need arises.

He also build a rather involved one with a piece of metal, possibly a chisel, it's been a long time. He upscaled that one into a kit that you can buy to build, and it is gorgeous.

I'm trying to make one at almost no cost, but I will review the first video where he built it before the kit. Thanks, Steven.

 

Edited November 2, 20241 yr by Handfoolery

On 11/1/2024 at 5:16 PM, Handfoolery said:

but the problem is tempering/heat treating the blade back to a level that it will hold a half decent edge. Not looking for stellar performance, just decent.

Does anyone here have any idea how I could go about it, with no fancy equipment, just a map gas or propane torch?

 

Depending on the Allen wrench size, a propane torch should do it but if 1/2" or 5/8", Mapp would get there a whole lot faster. There's several YouTube videos I watched in the past about how to first heat (usually until a magnet won't stick) then once cooled (sometimes water or oil quenched) the tempering is done in an oven over a period of time. Have to do that when the Mrs. isn't home though. Sorry I can't give more particulars; it's been awhile, but a search for tempering/ heat treating steel should yield results.

 

Just remembered, Taytools has a small one for less than $50. Reputable company. I have no affiliation.

 

Taytools Small Router Plane Here

Edited November 3, 20241 yr by Grandpadave52

Grizzly Tools offers this Shop Fox Router Plane