I am no longer offering classes here in my own shop due to lack of insurance coverage options. I am now teaching at Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Indianapolis, IN. My next class at Marc Adams is scheduled for May 26-30, 2026. (This is a Tuesday-Saturday class due to Memorial day being on Monday of that week.)
Class Description
Plane making is a combination of both wood and metal working, and this 5 day class will thoroughly cover both topics as students make a pair of #8 (1/2” radius) Hollow and Round molding planes and a 7/8″ rabbet plane. The goal will be to teach in such a way that students can go home and make more planes using the same techniques with minimal investment in tools or fixtures. Emphasis is almost entirely on hand tools except for a drill press to start the mortise and bench grinders to grind the profile on the irons, plus a bit of band saw work. Discussion will include the design considerations of molding planes, wood selection, and the mechanics of how these tools work. Other features found in molding planes, such as boxing, fences and depth stops, spring, and bed angles will be covered. Students will make the round plane first, starting with the billet and cutting the mouth with a back saw. The mortise will be sunk in, and the wedge fitted. The iron is then bedded to ensure a good tight fit. Profiling the sole is done with a block plane and the shape is then refined with sandpaper. The iron will be ground to match the sole of the plane, and then heat treating and tempering to harden the blade. Final detailing and sharpening will complete the round. Students will then proceed to make the hollow, using the just completed round to profile the sole. Once these two planes are completed, work will begin on the rabbet plane using variations of the same basic techniques. The methods taught in this class can also be applied to refurbishing antique planes.
The five day class tuition is $1050. There is also a $140 material fee of $140, which included three billets, three tapered irons, and full size plans for both the hollow and round planes and the 7/8″ rabbet plane.
Again, please note. This class is not held at my own shop, but at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking.
Students are provided with full scale plans, billets, and tapered irons.
A completed pair of planes.
18 Responses
I was fortunate to be able to take the Hollow and Round class this past Fall (2021) and, if you’re on the fence about it, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Dan is an excellent teacher and the experience of being able to work with him in his shop with all the appropriate tools necessary to build side escapement planes was invaluable.
Thank you Kevin, I enjoyed having you here!
Just finished the Hollow & Round Plane Making Class (June 2022) and it was fantastic!
Dan’s instruction, examples, pace and how he taught the class, were excellent. Everything he taught us was founded in what works for him and why it works for him. There was discussion of how these planes were built by his contemporaries as well as how they were built in the past. Each step was logical and made sense with the preceding step and the next step. The combination of math, plane cutting theory, woodworking and metalworking made for a very busy and fun three days.
There was also a lot to be learned just by being in Dan’s place of business. How he goes about batching his products, what tools does he use, and his supply line. And lastly, there is a farmer’s market on Saturday where his sister sells some awesome pies! The Key Lime was a the star, but all I tried were very good.
Oh, and my 1/2″ round worked the first time I used it! Not as pretty as Dan’s or the other students, but it worked!
Highly recommend the class.
Thank you Bryan for attending, I enjoyed having you here!
I just finished the three-day hollow and round class at Red Rose Reproductions. I had planned on taking the class a couple of years ago, and I jumped at the chance to register when Dan opened the classes again. I am happy to say it was well worth the wait! In addition to being an incredibly nice guy, Dan is an outstanding teacher. The is able to break down the complex task, of making a side escapement planes, into doable steps. He takes his time to explain and demonstrate each step and provides feedback while you perform each step on your own plane. The small class size (no more than three people) allows Dan to provide each person with whatever level of assistance is needed; he is always there to answer questions, provide feedback, or offer a demonstration of suggestion on the best way to complete a task.
I left the three-day class not only with the foundation skills to begin make my own planes, but also a much deeper understanding of the way these traditional planes were designed. When I got home, I immediately got to work on an old molding plane I had not be able to use. I was able to make a couple of small adjustments, and I was making shavings with it for the first time!
I thoroughly enjoyed the class and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in making and using traditional molding planes.
Thank you for your review Woody, it is much appreciated!
I took the Hollows & Rounds class in November 2023. I was skeptical that I would be able to make the planes using hand tools but not only was I able to make the two planes, they turned out far better than I expected. This was the first woodworking class I had taken. I normally learn from on-line resources and trial and error. Extremely pleased with the class and learned a ton. Dan does a great job of explaining and demonstrating the process and techniques. Now I’m working on a #4 Hollow & Round.
Great class!
Thanks for coming and leaving feedback Jeff! It was a pleasure having you here.
I have been interested in using moulding planes and bought some at flea markets and e,bay and wanted to make some myself. I bought a DVD on making hollows and rounds, which was OK, but there is nothing like having a one on one class with Dan, he is great teacher and a really nice guy too, It’s like youve known him for a long time, instant connection. The other two class members were also very friendly and all having the same desire to better understand and make our own planes, also made that instant connection. Dan showed us the technique for making the Irons from shaping to fit the planes, heat treating and sharpening.
For me personally it was a wonderful and worthwile experience and I am glad that i took the class and made new friends, at 81years old it shows you are never too old to learn something new. I definatly recomend this class if you want to learn how to make a pair of hollow and round moulding planes
Than you Philip for your review! It was a pleasure to have you here for a few days. I am pleased that you felt it worthwhile, and think your planes came out very nicely.
I traveled from Britain (Europe) to Sterling, IL, USA in November 2024 specifically to attend Dan’s plane-making course at Redrose Reproductions. You might think that’s a long way to go for a three-day course, but it was absolutely worth it—I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
Dan’s expertise in plane-making is incredible. His precision and attention to detail are exactly what this craft demands. The course was well-organized, and I learned a great deal. The workshop setting was fantastic, and I have great memories of the experience.
Originally, I took the course to improve my skills in refurbishing old planes. However, learning to make them from scratch gave me a deeper understanding of the craft, which has been invaluable for both restoration and working with wooden planes in general. It reinforced my appreciation for this classic tool—still essential in any modern workshop.
Martin Edwards MA
Insitju Framing & Conservation Ltd
United Kingdom
It was a real privilege having you here Martin. Thank you for making the trip!
Will you be offering this class in 2026 at MASW? Would like to sign up if the dates work.
I am scheduled to teach this class May 26-30, 2026. This will be Tuesday through Saturday because it is the week of Memorial Day. I believe enrollment opens after Thanksgiving.
Is there a chance you might do another class later in the year?
Brian, I am only teaching once a year now at Marc Adams School of Woodworking. I do not know when the dates may be for future classes but it may well be later in the calendar year.
I attended the hollow and round class in May 2026 at Marc Adams School of Woodworking. Dan is a great teacher, balancing short sessions of instruction and demonstration followed with time to use the recently taught skills to advance our own planes. Dan would slowly walk through the class, observing and offering guidance and encouragement. The internet is a great tool to learn but a class like this really highlights how hands on teaching is so much more effective. The class was hosted at MASW. The facility and staff are top notch. I had a great week and would highly recommend if you are interested in building or restoring wooden side escapement planes.
Thank you, Chris, for attending the plane making class, and taking the time to write about your experience. I enjoyed to myself, and look forward to continuing to teach at Marc Adams School of Woodworking.