Popular Woodworking 2006-04 № 154, страница 22

Tricks of the Trade

continued from page 18

A Safer Plane Ramp

A while ago, I built a wall-mounted ramp for storing my hand planes. This time-honored shop fixture keeps my planes organized and within easy reach because they all sit together at an angle on a board, divided by wood strips, and ready to grab in an instant.

Unfortunately, while cleaning my shop recently I bumped into the ramp, knocking my favorite bench plane loose. It fell to the floor with a sickening thud, cracking the casting at the throat. To keep this from happening again, I countersunk V2"-diameter rare earth magnets and matching cups (available at leevalley.com) into the ramp board under the heel of each plane. I also screwed pieces of V2"-thick plywood to the ramp at the front of each plane, having cut a rabbet into each piece to accommodate a plane's toe.

Now my planes are still out where I need them, but I no longer have to worry about them crashing to the floor. A firm tug is required to lift the heel, while the toe slides out easily

from under the rabbeted piece. These magnets will also secure planes that are stored on a horizontal shelf.

Tim Keen, Edmonton Alberta, Canada Editor's note: Usingmagnets aroundhandplanes can impart magnetism to the plane's parts, which may attract metal filings when sharpening the tool's iron.

- Screw a piece of plywood to the ramp at the front of each plane

Cut a rabbet into each piece to accommodate a plane's toe

Countersink rare earth magnets into the ramp board under the heel of each plane

CIRCLE NO. 138 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD.