Plane Making Classes

of the Mississinewa Workshop

2514 Lommel Ln. Marion, IN. 46952 Phone/FAX :765-664-3325 email:"todherrli@earthlink.net"

2011 Season

           All classes offered by the Workshop are hands on and each technique is carefully demonstrated for the student. The class size is small for close, personal attention. All classes emphasize hand tool skills. Tod Herrli is the instructor and owner and has been teaching and lecturing for several years. He has conducted demonstrations for various chapters of the Mid West Tool Collector’s Association, private clubs, museums, and guilds such as the Western Ohio Woodworkers of Dayton, The Wisconsin Woodworkers of Milwaukee and the Tri-State Woodworkers of New Harmony Indiana. Tod was featured in the Indiana State Museum’s "Tools of the Trade" exhibit in Indianapolis during 1997. This exhibit featured him as modern plane maker reproducing 18th century tools as were on display by the museum. He has also collaborated with Roy Underhill of the Woodwright’s shop" to produce an episode about making window sash. Tod has appeared and also made custom planes for Scott Phillips of the American woodshop. He made a plane to strike the molding on a framed mirror and a rule joint plane for making a drop leaf table joint on two episodes (#807 and #811) of the "American Woodshop show" of PBS. ALP productions have produced a plane making video hosted by Tod Herrli. This video provides detailed instructions on building your own pair of hollows and rounds as well as all the jigs and tools you will need to be a successful plane maker. This video is available on ALP’s website: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2nwp6/planes/hollow.html.   In recent times, Tod has taught plane making in Marc Adams School of Woodworking, is scheduled to teach at Olde Mill Cabinet Shoppe.  He has also assisted Mike Dunbar of Windsor chair fame by making 3 custom planes Mike used in producing a china hutch featured in Fine Wood Working issue #165.  Tod has written an article for Poplar Woodworking on how to craft your own hollows and round planes.    

 Classes and price list for 2011

 Sash plane with matching cope plane $700.00

            In this 4-day class aspiring window makers can craft their own sash and cope plane in 18th century profiles.  The sash plane contains two skewed blades to plough the rebate for the glass and putty and also strike the ovolo profile.  The class also includes time to make a matching cope plane to fit the moldings together at mortise and tenon joints.  Intermediate to advanced hand tool skills recommended. Four day class

Skewed thumbnail w/ nicker $450.00

Thumbnail planes are very popular for table top edges and lipped draw fronts.  This skewed plane is designed to cut with the grain and across the grain and leave a very smooth finish.  The blade is bedded at 50 degrees, skewed 15 degrees and an integral wedged nicker precedes the main blade to sever cross grain fibers.  A 3-day class Intermediate to advanced hand tool skills recommended

Basic side escapement (one of 6 choices) $350.00

            In this two day class, learn to design and craft your own basic side escapement wooden molding plane such as a hollow, round, thumbnail (1/4 or 3/8 radius), ovolo or draw bottom plane utilizing floats, chisels and hand saws.  Beginning to intermediate hand tool skills recommended. Two day class

Coffin smoother $200.00

            One of the more useful bench planes to clean up surfaces. A steep pitched center escapement plane with a single wedged blade. A one-day class recommended for beginner to intermediate skills.

Rail & stile molder $525.00

Handcraft this specialty plane with tandem blades in a three-day class. This plane performs the task of 3 planes to plow a ¼" groove 3/8" deep for a raised panel and simultaneously stick a 3/8" thumbnail on the face edge of the rail or stile. Intermediate to advanced hand tool skills recommended. three day class

Rail & stile molder with matching coping plane $700.00

In this 4-day class handcraft the rail & stile plane and also craft and tune the matching coping plane. This set of planes allows you to make raised panel doors with mortise and tenon joinery. Intermediate to advanced hand tool skills recommended. Four day class

Panel raising plane $700.00

In this 4 day class handcraft the beautiful panel raising plane that will cut raised panels flawlessly.  The plane has a main blade bedded 40 degree and skewed 30 degrees.  It cuts a 1/8” fillet at the top of the panel and 1 and 3/8” wide revel around the panel.  Students will have their choice of making an ogee profile or a traditional flat ramp.  This plane is designed to match the rail and stile plane so you can crank out those raised panel doors, wainscotings and other projects that utilize frame and panel construction.  Intermediate to advanced hand tool skills recommended. Four day class

  Special requests: Don’t be shy, if you have a special plane or series of planes you’d like to make, please inquire. Special classes or programs for guilds can be negotiated.

Schedule

Class starting times 8:00am-5:00pm EST

May 20th-23rd, Choice of classes :( 1 day, 2 day, 3 day or 4 day)

June 10th-13th, Choice of classes :( 1 day, 2 day, 3 day or 4 day)

July 15th-18th Choice of classes :( 1 day, 2 day, 3 day or 4 day)

August 12th-15th , Choice of classes :( 1 day, 2 day, 3 day or 4 day)

September 23rd-26th, Teaching @ Olde Mill in York, PA

October 21st-24th , Choice of classes :( 1 day, 2 day, 3 day or 4 day)

November 18th-21st , Choice of classes :( 1 day, 2 day, 3 day or 4 day)

Students must declare the day and request the choice of class or classes they wish to enroll.  Class size will be limited to 4 students.  A student may enroll in a 1 day class or longer and other students may be enrolled in a different class of different duration.  Since class size is small and personalized, different classes can run simultaneously.  Contact todherrli@earthlink.net to ascertain availability and reserve a space.  A deposit of ½ the tuition is required to reserve a space.