Bill Carter Handmade Planemaker.
Since 1987, made my first planes in the 70s.
Bill & Sarah would like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and all their kind words praising Bill's planes and the work that he does.
Updated 7/7/10 Latest Project.
Updated 7/7/10 For Sale
10) Using Ground off Chisels. 9) Bending the Body of a Mitre Plane. 8) Forming the Cupid Bow Dovetails. 7) Adjusting a Carter Plane Using Hide Mallets. 6) Marking and Cutting the Dovetails on the Base. 5) Sharpening an iron. 4) Cutting the Bevel at the Bottom of the Bed. 3) Forming the Double Dovetail. 2) Making the Tongue and Groove Joint. 1) Colouring metal.
CD'S/DVD'S A friend has put the CD onto a DVD.
Email bill.sarahcarter@hotmail.co.uk
Tel 0116-2762513
Welcome to Bill & Sarah's site.
This is a Rosewood cutting gauge I made 20 or more years ago which I have just aquired. At that time I made 10 or so gauges in different timbers. I can remember making them in Rosewood and Boxwood. If anyone has a Boxwood one in good condition I would gladly buy it back. This was my own design, notice how the wedge is on the same plain as the cutter, most gauges I have seen have the wedge on the side of the stem. I also offset the cutter giving it a slight angle from upright which made it easier to use. At the time of making I thought it was really neat, I might have made it a lot earlier than I think as it did not have my name on it. It might have been before I had my marks made, notice my name is on it now.
We had a wonderful day at Mike Cawthorne's timber yard, we met up with Ian Houghton and his wife (the mark maker) he produced this stunning mark below to advertise his work. I shall be the first one to order a similar mark for my planes. What a beauty.
Note the name and the zig zag border along with the decoration are punched into the wood, not the other way around as in the 18c marks.
Correction I bought this large mark with a zig zag border, I'm not sure about this but I think usually marks of this period are embossed, this one is different, the name and the zig zag border hammers into the wood and the background finishes flush. I must ask Richard Arnold, he will probably know more, we will let you know what he says. I don't recollect having seen this type before.
Richard gave me this large chiropodist mark from Market Harborough, which is local to us. Would it be for leather? I wouldn't think you would strike this on your big toe. Any comments.
I have just aquired this Ward bearded axe from the last Stanley sale, this is my favourite shape, it was for coach building. The cutting edge measures nearly 8". It weighs a ton.
Picture of Small Items.
Back row 3 knives and a Carter.
Front row left to right, Buck mitre plane, 2 small Carter mitres.
A Boxwood and Brass early bullnose by Holtzapffel and Deyerlein 1804-1827.
A Dutch Boxwood plane dated 1746.
Richard Arnold's New Mark.
Richard has had his new mark made by Chalco Stamp and Die.
Richard's new mark next to one of my planes, he has owned for 17 years and is in regular use in his work shop.
My New Mark From Chalco Stamp & Die.
Yesterday I received my new mark from Ian Houghton, what a beauty. I always get mixed up between incuse and embossed , I think mine is embossed. Anyway when you strike the mark the background goes into the wood leaving my name proud, flush with the surface. Also I have a delicate line surrounding CARTER, which is also flush with the surface after being hit. To top it all it has a lovely zig zag border copying the 18c, I love it to bits and can't wait to make my first plane in 2010 and strike this lovely mark on it. Thank you Ian.
The mark has a lovely weight to it and a good sized face to hit with the hammer.
There is a groove going across the body which faces the user, this enables me to strike the mark the right way up not upside down. In the past, I have by accident struck my name upside down.
Come on all of you who have asked me where to get a mark from, now is your chance, don't hesitate. Chalco Stamp and Die Company.
Tel: 01933 418311 email chalcostampanddie@tiscali.co.uk
18c Marks.
These are my 5 18c/19c marks with zig zag borders collected over a number of years, they are quite rare. At one time I had over 200 marks but I have given these away, just saving the 5 early ones. None of these 5 marks have makers names on them, but 2 of them (last picture) have marks on the sides possibly by the maker or the owner. Note their elegant shapes, not like the modern marks. These early marks would have been filed by hand.
I am having a new mark made by Chalco Stamp and Die and I can't wait to get it. I will post a picture when it arrives.
Gun Blue
A friend of mine has just sent me a jar of Gun Blue as I was having difficulty obtaining it. This is one of the methods I use to colour my planes.
Oil Stone.
A friend of mine has just given me this large oil stone, it measures 12 3/8" long x 3 1/2" wide x 1" thick, I think it is a Water of Ayr stone, it has it's original box, marked M.S.E. London and it is in as new condition. You do not normally get stones this big.
Chalco Stamp & Die Company.
I would like too recommend Chalco Stamp & Die, they are specialist producers of engraving, dies and stamps in Brass, Steel and Copper for a vast array of applications and end users, including footwear, pottery and stationery manufacturers, together with totally bespoke solutions for the artisan. To contact them click below for individual advice. They also make marks. (name stamps)
email: chalcostampanddie@tiscali.co.uk Tel: 01933 418311
The Mitre Plane
My Passion.
Coloured Boxwood with Ebony mouth closure.
This photo does not do the true colour of this plane justice.
The wooden mitre plane appeared about the same time as did the metal dovetailed mitre plane, towards the end of the 18c. The first ones were Beech with a Beech mouth closure. The Beech closure, end grain down helped with wear in front of the mouth. The idea was, when the sole wore down, the sloping mouth piece could be knocked out and eased so as to close the mouth up again to it's original opening. It didn't take long for the closure piece to be replaced with Boxwood, much more hard wearing! The mouth closure piece, not only does it look good sticking up above the body sides, but it also enables the plane to be made with a very fine mouth. It would be impossible to make this design of plane with it's fine mouth and low bed angle, using hand tools, if it did not have the seperate piece of wood for the mouth closure.
Fine mouth.
These planes are rareish and are always in Beech. I must be the only person ever to make them in Boxwood!
I found them to be just as hard to make in Boxwood, again using hand tools, as a dovetailed metal mitre plane. When making these planes in Boxwood, because of the interlocked grain and it'e hardness, I found it was just about impossible to remove the waste for the wedge and iron. Sharp chisels did not work. I again had to adapt to the blunt chisel technique. It again proved very difficult to achieve but it is possible. Although these difficult planes to make in Boxwood, when finished, proved to be most rewarding.
I love the original design, with their massive chamfers, scrolled wedges and upstanding mouth closures, very hard work. But I enjoyed every bit.
Massive chamfers
Scroll wedge.
Mouth closure.
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