House building in the 18th century was a labor intensive process that required the skills of many tradesman.  While the carpenter hewed and joined the timber frame "bones" of the building, it was the house joiner who crafted the fabric of its interior woodwork.  With a basic set of hand tools, the house joiner produced the raised and feather edge paneling, wainscoting, and decorative moldings so familiar in period houses and public buildings.  I use and make hand planes and other tools used by the house joiner to demonstrate the process of transforming rough lumber into the elements of a finished 18th century home.

                                                  The Happy Joyner                   Image courtesy E. Workman

                                                                                                                                  
Examples of reproduction and period tools.

Tools of the Trade



                                                                                                                                                                                           Image courtesy of Kerry Hawkins
Period and reproduction handplanes and tools




                                                                                                                                                                         Image courtesy of Mary from Holliston
Preparing to "ride" the cornice plane...




                                                                                                                                                        Image courtesy of Mary from Holliston
... and the result.




Reproduction 18th century Joiner's Chest
and a sample of raised paneling.



                                                                                                                                                                                                        Image courtesy A. Comjean
Motivation:  When the customer needed it yesterday...



Other Pages:

Reproduction Handplane Page

Westford Museum Cornice Molding



D.P. Lacroix
Westford, Massachusetts

Last updated: April, 2012