Steve Voigt
if you are planing stuff in 1800 you got a nice wooden smoother and when it wore out you replaced it.

Joel, I was going to let it go earlier when you said "wooden planes have one serious flaw--they wear out," but twice is too much.
Anyone buying a nice a nice wooden smoother in 1800 was buying a double iron plane. And that plane would not wear out in a lifetime, if properly taken care of. Yes, the mouth will open, but that doesn't matter if there's a cap iron.
Yes, we've all seen planes with half an inch taken off the sole--or more likely, 3/8 at one end and 5/8 at the other. Those planes were obviously not taken care of by serious craftsmen.
Who here has worn out a wooden plane without abusing it? Tell me and I'll stand corrected.