Paul Kierstead
>I believe that using the "flat abrasive" technique requires frequent clearing of the swarf, and a large enough abrasive area compared to the plane that "edge effects" are minimised. In the case of a #7 or #8 this is a ludicrously large abrasive area.

Ahh ... the ludicrously large might explain something. My experience with flattening via paper has been a bit poor, and I buy the arguments, but when I see Konrad Sauer flattening a 28-1/2" jointer (see http://www.sauerandsteiner.com/news/2007/11/abs-of-destruction-part-i.html ) this way I wonder what his magic is that I don't have (beyond skill, heh). I hate when I see someone clearly getting great results from a method which has fallen into disrepute. He does indeed have a ludicrously large flattening surface, so that probably explains it.