Yes Shed Plan

Moulding Plane Shelves Project The Tool Sets

Heres the tool shot that would have normally been at the end of the moulding shelves project post:


My idea was to divide the group into smaller, task based, sets. Its a good idea, but somewhat problematic, as reality is not quite that organized. For example, should the bevel gauge be included with "layout" tools or "dovetail" tools? I chose both. Of course, the sharp eyed reader will point out that the same bevel gauge is NOT included in the full tool group photograph. Hmm. I guess its not that FULL after all...

Im not really trying to do anything more than the grouping, but I will include a few notes here and there. Anyway, heres my attempt at an organized tool breakdown.

Layout Tool Set:


Framing square w/ Veritas square fence*, shop-made marking gauge, 6 zigzag rule, shop-made panel gauge, pencil**, marking knife, dividers w/ pencil**, bevel gauge, 6" square.

* I like this fence, but wish it was thin on both sides, so I could use it on 3/4 stock in left and right orientation.
** Dixon Ticonderoga 1388-2/HB Soft, of course!

Dimensioning Tool Set:


Stanley #65 low angle block plane, framing square w/ Veritas square fence, cross-cut panel saw*, rip saw, shop-made marking gauge, marking knife, 6 zigzag rule, 6" square.

* Being on the shorter side, I prefer shorter saws - especially for cross cutting. This one is 20" with 12tpi.


Dado Tool Set:


Maul*, framing square w/ Veritas square fence, 6 zigzag rule, 3/4" dado plane**, Gramercy holdfasts***, batten, hammer, marking knife, story stick****.

* Like a lot of my shop-made tools, this was a quick and dirty prototype that just kept working...
** An Ohio Tool Co. 3/4" dado plane that came to me with a sketchy replacement iron, which I reshaped and hardened, and now it works great (Thanks again Dave!).
*** I am just loving these! My old system worked fine, but these are slick and a joy to use. If you are considering buying a pair, do it!
**** This should have appeared in the layout set as well. I dont know why I dont always make one of these. It was very useful, and saved me from cutting a dado on the wrong side of a line more than once.


Shaping Tool Set:


6 zigzag rule, half-round file (fine), half-round file (coarse), shop-made turning saw, Veritas spokeshave (round), Veritas spokeshave (flat), dividers w/ pencil*.

* Dixon Ticonderoga 1388-2/HB Soft. Dont ask...


Rabbet Tool Set:


Maul, sneaky framing square*, flat bladed screw driver**, Record #778 rabbet plane***, Gramercy holdfasts, 6 zigzag rule.

* NOT used for this task - dont know how it made it into that shot without me noticing.
** The set screws on the 778 are slotted - using the screwdriver is slower, but much more secure. No wandering fence or depth gauge here!
*** Or rebate plane for any Brits who might be reading this. Go Cavendish!


Surfacing Tool Set:


Stanley #7 jointer plane, Stanley #5 jack plane, Stanley #3 smooth plane, Stanley #65 low angle block plane.


Dovetail Tool Set:


Coping saw, pencil*, Lie-Nielsen dovetail saw (rip), shop-made marking gauge**, bevel gauge, Marples chisel, marking knife.

* Do I have to say it again?
** Sharpened to a knife point.


Boring and Fastening Tool Set:


Millers Falls 6" brace*, phillips hex driver bit, hex driver adapter**, no-name egg beater drill***, twist bits, hammer, bit gauge, 6 zigzag rule.

* Smaller braces are great for driving screws - much faster rotation, but still plenty of power.
** Not really needed - the brace chuck can hold the hex driver on its own, but its so stubby it is hard to see whats going on - the adapter improves visibility greatly.
*** With the c. 1976 price from Jim Klauder & Sons Country Hardware in my Dads handwriting - not the best drill in my kit, but my favorite.


Well, I dont think I will be doing this for every project. Its too much work for one thing, and it would probably bore most readers to tears. It was kind of interesting as an exercise in classification - at least for me - but maybe Im just strange that way...