Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello guys. I am back with another list of questions.w I am looking at the sloane finger planes. I plan to use them for shaping bracing. In your experience, what size and style is the best fit for this. Who prefers the convex or the flat bottom? I used a small blade and chisels to shape my first guitar. What other applications to flat top guitar building would these planes have? Are there any other small finger plane makers, Im attracted to the small size of the finger planes for shaping my braces and also using them to modify overbraced cheap guitars I own, through the soundhole.


thank you guys for the help.

I have the itsy bitsy violin plane and a larger one (12-14mm??)

I thought I was going to send the VP back. But I used that sucker all the time in carving braces. BTW, they are both convex. Be aware the convex planes have curved edged blades. Sharping them is a technique unto itself. Note that Stew-Mac and LMI offer no support here other than new blades (which is rediculous).

There are solutions, however.

I also use a 2 cherries curved chisel (16mm) for shaping (chisel turned upside down.) This is a topic with endless opinions... just search this forum and you will see.

Mike

I have several Ibex finger planes. I like the 10mm flat bottom sole the best for planing braces.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

We recently talked about them a bunch here

viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=20392&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=0

Saint james bay makes cool finger planes, dick tools sells herdim brand violin planes and some really nice looking ebony violin planes.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Saint james bay tools is is running a couple of ebay auctions for fingerplanes, one of them is a really cool 5 piece set of norris type violin planes. Old school!

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY