Years ago I used to make all my sticks with the 5/8” Ray Iles rounding plane. I think I must have had a bump on the head at some point because I cannot remember when or why I stopped using it.
Last year I bought one from Classic Hand Tools in the UK, and I quickly remembered how well it worked. When set with care, it can be used to shave sticks and tenons. And you can do it in a jiffy if you spin the stick with an electric drill.
There are other places that sell them, such as Workshop Heaven and Tools for Working Wood (plus some other small suppliers in the UK). If the tools are temporarily hard to get, Ray and his crew will make more.
The video above shows how I use the tool to create long sticks and tenons. It was shot by our new assistant editor, Kale Vogt. Kale is an enthusiastic chairmaker, and you’ll see a lot more of her in the coming weeks.
As per the usual, I buy all my tools with my own money. Nobody sponsors us. No affiliate links. No legerdemain.
— Christopher Schwarz
For other tips on making chairmaking cheaper, read these entries.
I saw the YouTube video, and my first thought was “well, these will be sold out for quite a while, lol” Thanks for yet another way to lower the barrier into chairmaking, I look forward to trying this out!
You can also buy blades from Lee Valley and make your own. Curved blade is typically used.
I like Rays mortise chisels too.
Not unlike the rounding planes made by Peter Hindle, Midlands in the UK
What size do you use Chris? Thank you.
1/2″ and 5/8″ are sold out so I’m guessing it might be one of those…
Almost exclusively 5/8″
7/16 and 9/16 in stock at Tools For Working Wood in Brooklyn NY
Every time I think that your blog posts are getting away from woodworking you post something like this. Thank you
thanks Chris, what are your thoughts on alternate sizes for chair making (1/2, 3/4, 7/8)? also, can the planes be fine tuned to produce a tenon that better matches a drill bit like the metric ones sold as imperial?
I use the 5/8″. You can fine tune them with some practice. Before you do, don’t forget to make that first stick and save it….
I’m glad I already own one . . .
I’m pretty sure Elia Bizzarri makes these as well. There have also been articles in numerous magazines for making rounding planes. The web has numerous how-tos. And Roy had an episode on making one, season 21, episode 4.
I should have mentioned that. Thank you. When dealing with first-time chairmakers, the last thing that want to do is first become a toolmaker. So I focus on off-the-shelf solutions. I have made rounding planes. It’s not that difficult. But it’s still a hurdle.
Parafin not beeswax….beeswax be sticky, unless Mr. S says otherwise.
No legerdemain but plenty of prestidigitation!
As someone else mentioned Elia Bizzarri makes these and other chair making tools in North Carolina.
https://handtoolwoodworking.com/tenon-cutters/
I’m sure Elia can make any style and size people want. But the cutters shown on his site cut tapered tenons, not dowels of any length. Extremely useful and well made, but different.
John, thanks for the correction.
You don’t want to jam your stick forward Chris? Hahaha. Love the video and drill setup and what you said was priceless for my dirty little mind.
how does this compare to the Veritas 5/8″ Tapered Tenon Cutter for making dowels/ sticks?
The tapered tenon cutter doesn’t make sticks. The 5/8″ bit that comes out at the end is too chewed up by the process to make a decent stick (at least in my experience).