Pattern makers, undeniably master woodworkers, translated the intricate designs of finished products into precise wooden patterns.
These patterns were crucial, dictating the final quality of cast metal items. Their expertise extended to anticipating the behavior of molten metal, accounting for flow, shrinkage during cooling, and the impact of form – especially corners and bends – on the structural soundness of the final piece.
To achieve this level of detail, a pattern maker’s toolkit would have included a diverse array of planes, particularly those with varying sole curvatures. Recognizing the efficiency of versatility, a single plane body could often be adapted with interchangeable sole shapes, eliminating the need for a multitude of individual planes.
These specialized planes, a testament to ingenious design, typically featured:
- A variety of sole shapes: Interchangeable wooden soles allowed for diverse profiles:
- Round or Convex Soles: For crafting concave curves and hollows.
- Hollow or Concave Soles: For producing convex curves and rounds.
- Flat Soles: For general smoothing and flattening tasks.
- Specialized Shapes: Some sets included soles for creating specific details like beads or chamfers.
- Matching Irons (Blades): Frequently, each sole was paired with a blade ground to its corresponding curvature, ensuring optimal cutting accuracy. However, a single adaptable blade was sometimes used across different soles.
- Robust Construction: The plane body was typically crafted from wood, often beech, incorporating secure fastening mechanisms like dovetails or screws to firmly hold the interchangeable soles. Less common examples might feature brass bodies.
- Efficiency and Economy: This modular system offered significant advantages, enabling pattern makers to execute a wide spectrum of shaping tasks with a single, relatively compact set of tools – a far more economical solution than acquiring numerous dedicated planes.
This interchangeable sole plane represented a modular approach to wood shaping. Given their mastery of woodworking, pattern makers often crafted these specialized planes themselves.
I have several interchangeable sole planes in my collection, but only one includes multiple soles and irons.
This plane has no maker’s marking on it – but the irons are from Marples & Sons (although based on the logo’s are of different vintages).
You can see from the photo how each sole clips into the body of the plane – a method that is both quick and easy.
The 4 soles are stamped with a number (3, 6, 8 & 10), while the irons are stamped with 3 & 10.
The stamped number corresponds to the radius (in inches) of the curve on the sole.
NOTE: Information in this post was obtained from a number of sources, including John M. Whelan’s book ‘The Wooden Plane – Its History, Form and Function’. I also made use of Microsoft’s AI tool – Gemini.