Spehar Toolworks is pleased to be the exclusive agent for Stephen M. Thomas infill planes and adjusters. Please contact Vlad Spehar for any additional information you may require, and thank you for your interest.
Plane |
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Coffin Shaped Infill Plane with Loop and Pin Joinery |
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Plane Dimensions |
9 ¼ x 2 ½ |
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Plane Materials |
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Bronze, A2 Tool Steel |
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Plane Weight |
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6 ¼ to 6 ½ lbs |
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Iron Dimensions |
2-1/8” x 7-1/2” |
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Iron Material |
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Standard: A2 Tool Steel
Custom: CPM M4 composite iron
Note: CPM M4 is extremely tough and abrasion resistant, commensurately it is more difficult and time consuming to regrind the bevel and to hone than A2 steel
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Cap Iron Material |
Brass - Screw 7/16 x 14 pitch square thread |
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Adjuster Specifications |
Adjuster is made on the differential thread principle. The threaded barrel portion of the stem is 7/16 – 24 tpi. Internally, it is threaded to mate with the swivel stem, 5/16” – 18tpi. The effective differential thread pitch is the same as a single thread of 72tpi, but with a stronger thread section. Stem is made of 4130 (“chrome-moly”) steel and the threaded swivel is aluminum bronze, as is the threaded carrier which moves the iron. The motions of the adjuster are direct and intuitive. The adjuster moves the iron forward when screwed “in” (normal RH fastener direction), The lateral moves the iron deeper toward the same side as the stem is moved. |
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Adjuster Material |
Stem: 4130 Chrome-moly Steel
Swivel: Aluminum Bronze |
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Infill |
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Ebony |
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The Stephen M. Thomas coffin shaped infill plane set a new standard when it was introduced. The Loopy (as it became to be called) is a classic handplane in the tradition of Norris & Spiers, but with modern appointments and innovative design. Not only is it unique in appearance, it proved to be an exemplar performer as determined in Lyn Mangiameli’s exhaustive hand plane performance study.
Loop and Pin Joinery
While versions of the Norris type infill planes use the traditional dovetail joint as the method of joining the sides to the sole, Stephen decided to join his plane via the structurally superior loop and pin joint. This very joint is the predominant feature of this plane. The blend of polished bronze and A2 tool steel give it an unsurpassed visual prominence.
Adjustable Mouth
The Loopy was the first infill plane to incorporate an adjustable mouth. It was precisely engineered to maintain flatness relative to the sole throughout its adjustability. To ensure sole flatness, Stephen scraped both the sole and the adjustable mouth to the highest of tolerances to ensure flatness.
Irons and Cap Irons
The A2 irons are hardened and ground flat.
