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Tuning a Hock Blade

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Tuning a Hock Blade

#1

Tuning a Hock Blade

Roy from Cincy

>Hi. I recently got an after market Hock blade that is supposed to fit either my #4 or my #5. Problem is I can't get it to fit either. The blade is so much thicker than the old blade that I can't tune the frog right. I'm either so far forward that the blade actually hits the front of the throat or so far back that the blade won't bed fully on the frog, but leaves a gap because it is hitting the back edge of the throat. And no, I'm not putting it in upside down. I finally tuned it so that I could see the tiniest bit of light through the throat, and I tried taking off the thinnest shaving, but it clogged immediately. What am I doing wrong?

TIA.

Re: Tuning a Hock Blade

#2

Filing!

Christopher Schwarz

>Roy,

You need to file the front of the mouth. Clamp the plane vertically in a bench vise and file the front of the the mouth until the iron will project with about 5 thou or 7 thou of daylight (for a smoother).

To ensure the mouth is square, it's a good idea to scribe a line about 1/64" forward of the the mouth.

You might also have to file down the boss that extends between the legs of the frog, depending on the type of plane it is.

Chris

Re: Tuning a Hock Blade

#3

Exactly

jim_reed@marietta

>Stanley blades are a whopping 1/16" thick and chatter like grandma after her morning coffee. Hocks and others (like mine) are at least 1/8" thick and don't wiggle near as much. Often they fit without a problem because the planes are big. Sometimes you need to file the mouth like Chris says. Go ahead and file. You will not regret it.

Re: Tuning a Hock Blade

#4

Before the surgery...

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA

>Suggest check whether the little depth adjust 'finger' will engage the chipbreaker. If it doesn't, you might want to reconsider the options.

Wiley

Re: Tuning a Hock Blade

#5

Oooops, sorry, never mind

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA

>I see that has to be working since you've almost got a shaving.

Wiley

Re: Tuning a Hock Blade

#7

Re: Tuning a Hock Blade

Jonathan Peck -N.Y.

>This is a good sign...if ya asked me! I have a #603 that's seen alot of use. Everything is loose and wiggles and the sole has been lapped...and lapped...and lapped. Lapping the sole and use, and repeated lapping..and use opens the mouth, and this plane was a good candidate for a thicker replacement blade. I dropped one in, and it tightened the mouth opening. A little tuning and BANG! nice user.

So if I had to guess, I'd say that your planes haven't seen quite as much use...that's the good part. Here's the other part. Stanley blades work pretty well, and with a good tune up are good performers. But if you really NEEEED a replacement blade, you will have to modify the mouth on your planes. And since you're already in the pocketbook...get the new chipbreaker too.

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