Flattening the backs of plane irons... ?

Re: Flattening the backs of plane irons... ?

Ron in Richmond Hill

>Some may call it putting a curve on the edge or perhaps feathering the edges. Whatever your terminology, you want the cutting edge of the blade to have a slight crown to it such that the center is higher than the outside corners. You want to take just enough off the two outside ends to eliminate those "plane tracks" on your final cuts.

Re: Flattening the backs of plane irons... ?

Bob Nelson

>Todd has previously indicated he has some doubts about anyboy that flattens plane backs. Whether or not he's valid there, I have definite oubts about anybody who does so while sitting in the Alps. AI've been to the alps and found many better things to do there than that - including just sitting and looking at the scenery.

Re: Flattening the backs of plane irons... ?

Charles

>Put down the straightedge, put the 10,000 grit stones away, buy some lumber, and make something.

Re: Flattening the backs of plane irons... ?

Charles

>You're in good shape as long as the tracks are gone. I typically do my dubb over routine from the bevel side which I think is the better route to go in that you don't want to take a chance getting the back out of flat.

But whatever works for you is fine.

Relax, don't worry, make furniture.

Re: Flattening the backs of plane irons... ?

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>If it ain't broke, don't fix it is what I say. Technically I think if your plane iron is not flat to match the flat frog, it may tend to rock slightly while planing, causing chatter or an uneven bite. I think the best recommendation would be to round the corners of the iron on the bevel side, I think this provides better control of the round over.

Re: well I guess

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>if the iron is bevel down as in a smoothing plane, the rounded back would only effect the cap iron and not the frog, and the rounded back would only cause a problem if it allowed shavings to catch at the cap iron.

Re: well I guess

CONGER - The Irish diaspora in Munich

>Yep... I thought the same (catching under the cap iron)... but this does not happen. Maybe the cap iron (old style Lie Nielsen) flexes enough to cover the gap? The gap IS small (measured by eye). Anyways, the plane works a treat now.

-g-

Re: well I guess

Virginia Jim

>Coincidently, I just tried relieving the corner from the back rather than from the bevel, and I too found that it worked well. When I thought about it later (try first, think later - standard recipe for disaster) it occured to me that it is hard to round over from the bevel without making that part of the edge thick (dull). If you round from the back, the edge can stay thin all the way to the end.

Re: well I guess

CONGER - The Irish diaspora in Munich

>Makes sense VJ, just have to avoid the problem pointed out earlier with the cap iron.

I will be 'working' again tomorrow, so I can tell more then.

-g-