Gramercy also makes a very nice saw vise. I have one and it is the best. I used several of the older saw vise and they work well also. They also have the files you will need if you decide to start doing your own. I also had my favorite dovetail saw redone and sharpened [...]

I know you will love the Gramercy saw – I have tried it at the Woodworking in America gatherings, and am very impressed with it. You take it easy between now and the long trip, and make sure to take along some Melatonin to help with jet lag. I appreciate your comment about the table [...]

Sorry for not replying sooner, Al, but R/L took over here for a while! Well.., …months..! I’m going for the Gramercy dovetail saw. I just like its smaller configuration and the research that went into this saw. I have not touched one yet, but it sure has touched me! LOL! So I’ll be paying Joel [...]

Wonderful, Bob! The first plane is always special.

But Arcadia is sure to make your time more enjoyable – enjoy your time together, as time is relentless in its march forward!

For the most part I am finished with the router plane. I did endup making my own iron out or an allen wrench. It worked out better then I thought it would. It is also way to big for the plane. But, know that I have made the one, it should be easier to make [...]

ding! ding! ding!

THE WINNER! Thanks for entering, Bob!

I think this router plane will be terrific, Bob! Are you getting any help from the little one? Precious! I may undertake a similar router plane project in the near future.

You can see some pics here at flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkophotography/ I am using an eye hook to secure the iron. I drilled a hole through and then I made a mortse to accept the eye. Then I should just have to tighten the nut and hope it holds. I glued and screwed the bottom on. I [...]

Bob,

Thanks – I love it! I would never have thought of it, but it also a good one.

I had forgotten about the wooden router plane that Christopher Schwarz wrote about in 2006. He mentions “…securing the iron with a metal collar…”, but I am not sure what it entails. The good thing about it: it uses an Allen wrench as the cutter. Link: http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/cSchwarz/z_art/routPlanes/rPlane1.asp .

Walnut is a great choice of wood, Bob. The Allen wrench will work fine – a little grinding, and you will be set. But, like you already said, holding it will be the key, as you don’t want it to move while in use. If you wish, you can include photos as you make progress. [...]

My idea for this forum/section is ScrapWood. My thought behind it is: Everyone has it, everyone has different ideas what to do with it. Some of it is good, some not so good. Just like the information and knowledge that we all have on wood working. What one considers scrap, it may be exactly what [...]

My wood choice is walnut, That was the scrap wood I had around. the way I formed it was to hold the block of wood like I would use it and make some marks. From there I just used some round stock that fit closely to the marks I had and cut from there. The [...]

I too would love to see how you are coming along on your venture into handplane making please keep us informed, thanks.

hoody, Which Japanese saw do you use? The reason I wonder: If it is one without a good, solid back, it is not very good, as it tends to wander in the kerf, based on my experience. I used one of those before I knew what I was doing. The one in the photo above [...]

Thanks, hoody!

I have tried a Japanese saw, too, the one I bought at Woodworking in America from DiLegno Supply Company. I wrote another article at http://sandal-woodsblog.com/2009/09/01/the-stand-up-desk-defining-the-split-tenons/ – and this one I use for all types of joinery:

But for dovetails I stick to the saws I mentioned earlier.

Very interesting journey into learning to hand cut dovetail joints, Al! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the articles you wrote! Mine are also improving. I use a Japanese saw but I’m getting to learn where to cut to minimize gaps and I am improving, which leaves a great feeling. I must admit that I was intimidated [...]