Forming and Fitting the Handle

Before it is glued into place, now is the time to shape the handle with files and rasps to its final shape.  I like the light of a north facing door when shaping, it helps to cast shadows that aid in forming it:

Also before I glue the handle into the plane, I decide to make a few modifications to the body of the plane, purely for aesthetics.  This part is by no means necessary, nor does it add to the functionality of the plane in any real manner - just something I wanted to try.  I didn't have any sort of plan or predisposed idea as to every change, as will be seen - rather, I was just going by "gut feel" to see where it lead to.  I used a back saw for most cuts, or the bandsaw.

With all of the cuts made that I think are needed to be made, and the handle formed to a pretty fair approximation of it's final shape, it's time to glue the handle into the plane body.

Not much clamping force is needed, just enough to hold the handle in place, and to close up a very thin gap at the bottom back of the handle.  Care needs to be taken that the clamps don't break the handle in it's thinnest area or on it's horn.  I've found that cam clamps are really handy for odd shaped pieces like these - I made about 9 of these clamps for myself a couple of years ago, and they have proven invaluable in many different projects.  They are a classic design that's been around for centuries.

Once the handle is glued, I can rasp and file the razee and handle so their adjacent surfaces match, and then I can start rasping the aesthetic cuts I made, rounding off the corners, and performing some general final shaping of the plane body.