All Wood Curved Plane

[HeelSpur]

I saw an all wood curved plane today and its the only one I've ever seen.
It kind of looked like this but it was curved.


What were they used for?
I wish I would of stuck to my gut feeling and bought, but you know.

[mikeswrenches]

If it was about as long as the one you pictured, and curved across the "short dimension" it was probably a gutter plane.

Mike

[HeelSpur]

If it was about as long as the one you pictured, and curved across the "short dimension" it was probably a gutter plane.

Mike

It was curved like a half moon.

[mikeswrenches]

That sounds about right.  As wooden planes go, they aren't real common. They aren't rare by any means, but you don't run across them every day.

Mike

[HeelSpur]

That sounds about right.  As wooden planes go, they aren't real common. They aren't rare by any means, but you don't run across them every day.

Mike

Not a half moon like for a gutter, the entire piece is shaped like a half moon.
Like someone pulled the ends of the wood into a U shape.
Make a circle and cut out about 2/3 of it, that is the shape of the plane.

[Bill Houghton]

For planing curves, like the outside of wagon wheels before the tire goes on, round table tops, and the like.  Less tendency to wander from the true arc than if you used a regular plane or a spokeshave.

[mvwcnews]

Don't forget coach building, the curved ends of stair railings, etc.  Lots of curved surfaces that need to be smooth on the outside.

Before dad decided to focus on wrenches he had a pretty decent collection of planes including some unusual specialty items.  He sold or traded most of the planes to build the wrench collection.

He gave me a near mint Stanley #55 set in original  (Chestnut?) dovetailed box -- The outside of the box is a uniform almost black color --  it had sat in the rafters of a small town blacksmith shop so the paper label on the outside is unreadable in normal light -- have not tried it with infrared.

[Billman49]

Possibly a cooper's sun or topping plane - Branson will know...

[Branson]

If it is like the picture Billman posted, then you have your answer -- it's a sun plane (US nomenclature) or topping plane (UK nomenclature).  "Topping plane" gives the clearest idea of its use.  Once the cask has been fully raised, this plane evens up the tops of the staves so the surface around the cask end is perfect, hence the curve of the body of the plane.

There are also planes that are radiused from end to end.  These are used by some (few) coopering traditions, but find greater use among other types of wood workers -- like carriage makers, wheelwrights, and come cabinet makers.  These woodworkers would need several different radii for their work, and were supplanted by the adjustable radius plane in the photos (courtesy Billman).