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From the Collection |
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Payson's Toboggan Plane
At first glance this tool appears to be nothing more than some
rolled metal and a carriage bolt, with a wing nut to hold a
dedicated blade. Was it intended to supplant an existing design
or was it just an innovative exercise in manufacturing? Whatever
the origins of this design, the execution is flawless in its
simplicity and it is easy to understand why the plane has been
given its name.
It would appear the construction required only a punch press,
with a dedicated or a progressive die to blank out the two major
pieces. The final forming of the shape required a bending device
or further die work to accommodate the raised edges on the sides
and the additional body stiffener. This use of the flat and
then rolled or formed section, punched out from sheet stock,
eliminated the need for wooden patterns and the elaborate casting
process, as found in other popular woodworking planes.
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Bent
wings that stiffen the bed. |
The
body has long shaped wings bent up to stiffen the bed ahead of
and behind the blade opening. This bent-edge feature prevents
the manufacture of the plane from simple flat bar and contributes
much rigidity to the sole section.
The secondary riveted insert gives even more rigidity and attempts
to provide a comfortable place for fingers to grab the body
at the midpoint, ahead of the blade opening. It does not succeed,
as the plane is somewhat awkward to grasp and is uncomfortable
to use for extended periods. |
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Other Articles from this Issue |
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