My avatar picture shows a little wood plane. Someone asked me if I made it. I did, but it was before I started making instructables, so I have not taken photos during the making. But I thought I would at least make a description of how it was made and show how it looks from different angles. It was a small, easy project, which can be repeated by anyone with at least some wood working skills.

Step 1: Saw Out the Parts

The plane consists of a block with a cross pin, a blade and a wedge. Now, my plane is somewhat of a fake! A "real" wood plane should be chiseled out of solid hard wood. However, my goal was to make an easy model, which might be made by my wood work students, so I sawed out the bits - using ordinary pine wood - and glued them together. The angles of the inside of the block can vary regarding what kind of work the plane is intended to do. This one got 45 degree angels - mostly to make the manufacture easy for young people.

The cross pin is probably the hardest part to fit and make work in order to properly hold the blade and wedge. It is not just a round piece of wood going straight through. It has a smaller diameter where it goes through the sides and is sanded flat on one side of the section inside the block. The pin must be able to swivel so the wedge can rest against the flat side - it is flat to create enough friction to make the wedge stay in place.

The blade is made from an old wood saw. This is by no means the best to make a blade for a wood plane out of - it should be thicker, but it was what I had. A piece of an old file or the like would be better.

Step 2: Put It Together

The sides and the main parts of the block was aligned and clamped together so I could see where to make the holes for the cross pin and to get the right spacing of the gap in the sole of the plane.

After having made sure all the bits fit together I glued the sides to the main parts of the block MAKING SURE TO FIT THE CROSS PIN as it can not be fitted after the gluing!

I made the wedge after I glued the other parts together. I found it easier to make a wedge that fits the plane than making the plane to fit the wedge.

Sanding all sides after the glue had thoroughly dried gave a good, smooth finish. The sole was given a rub with a candle stick to ease the the working on wooden surfaces.

Step 3: Finish the Blade

The blade was, as mentioned, made from a sawblade. I made sure to get the edge exactly 90 degrees. The width was intensionally made a little too small for the space in the block so that it is possible to make a final adjustment. The cutting edge was sharpened in a jig I usually use for chisels at about 30 degrees.

This plane is not the fanciest or the best to use, but it is all but free and relatively easy to make. I can not plane a large board with it, but it is quite good for smal jobs as finishing edges and the like. A person, who have made an easy, little plane like this, might get inspired to make a "real" one - and that was the most important goal with the project.