Planes and Grain Graphics

I was expecting to finish my last two planes off a little earlier. However we started learning about grain graphics and that set me back a few days. Earlier in the week I applied a hardwood sole onto the bottom of my jointer plane. It is a thin piece of Kempas wood that has great wearing capabilities. With my Jointer Plane all tuned up, I was finally able to use it to shape the sole of my Coopering Plane. The Coopering Plane is used to shape curved surfaces, so the sole has a convex shape to it.

Along with completing my Planes, I began doing a Grain Graphics exercise. It involved taking a piece of Ash and cutting it at a diagonal to the growth rings. Cutting in this orientation produces a board with straight grain. I then took the board and cut two curves into it. By taking the time earlier to cut the board into a rift sawn pattern, when the two curves are cut the grain lines now followed the curve. This creates a visually pleasing pattern to the eye. After the board was cut out, I then had to finish the surface using my Planes and Spoke Shave.

With the Grain Graphics exercise complete; I will move on to our next project: The Wabi Sabi Cabinet. Wabi Sabi is a Japanese phrase meaning "Beauty through Imperfections". With this being my first attempt at building a cabinet with hand tools, I assume there will be many little imperfections and oops' throughout.