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First plane arrived! now what?

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First plane arrived! now what?

#1

First plane arrived! now what?

rocky eulo

>Yesterday I received my Veritas medium shoulder plane. I've got 18 mortises to cut today and I was hoping to use it. My problem is I have no experience or equipment to sharpen. I have ordered Leonard Lee's book and am planning on a trip to Woodcraft this week to pick up some water stones. I was going to try Christpher Schwartz's system in his PW April 2003 article. He mentions 3 things to do on a new plane or chisel; polish the backside, grind the cutting bevle, and polish the secondary bevel. Do I need to hold off using this plane until I am able to perform these functions or can I go ahead and use it and do them at another time. Any help would be appreciated.

Rocky

Cleveland, TN

Re: First plane arrived! now what?

#2

SS

jim_reed@marietta

>Do a search on scarey sharp. I use a flat marble floor tile from HD (three or four bucks) along with 220 grit silicon carbide sandpaper from Sprawl-Mart. Your blade should need only mininal touch up before use. Flaten the back, dress out the front factory bevel, remove the wire edge. Good luck.

Re: First plane arrived! now what?

#3

And also

jim_reed@marietta

>I set my shoulder planes to cut wispy, tissue thin shavings. It makes them easier to push and it makes your joints more accurate. They are precision instruments and not meant to hog off wood.

Re: First plane arrived! now what?

#4

Jim in Burlington Ont.

Be carefull

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>You have to be carefull and make sure you sharpen the blade 90 degree's to the side's of the blade. It really shouldn't need more than a little touchup till you get the book and stones.

Re: First plane arrived! now what?

#5

Re: First plane arrived! now what?

Ed Falis

>In the other hand, you might just try the plane on some scrap as it came from the factory. Veritas plane are generally pretty good as shipped. My shoulder plane was usable before I did anything to it in terms of sharpening.

- Ed

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