Shooting Wooden Plane Soles...

A question...

Todd Hughes

>How much better do they perform? Is the final finish on the wood you work much better now?.....Todd

Re: Shooting Wooden Plane Soles...

Tim of Dublin

>You had irons in both with the wedges tightened as you'd normally have when used.......?

A slight crowning of the sole typically isn't much problem in a smoother, IMLE.....concavity is. Either presents a problem for try or jointer planes.

Tim

Re: Shooting Wooden Plane Soles...

steve knight

>this is the usual setup because of the pressure of the wedge. though when I first make a plane it is usualy oppisite.

Re: Work Better Now ???

Ed DeLauter

>I can't say yet. The linseed oil is still drying.

But if they work better I will be thrilled. Both

performed very well prior to the shooting. I could

consistently get crisply planed wood and .002" shavings from both. I wasn't going to even do it(the shooting) and "leave well enuf alone." But it is recommended by the "Xperts" so what the hell. If I only do it every couple years the planes will easily outlast me. I'm hoping they become more stable with age but Wood NEVER stops moving.

Ed

P.S. There was a bit of trepidation on my part since I had never shot lignum vitae.

Re: Work Better Now ???

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>If a plane works well, there is no reason at all to flatten a sole. A lot of times planes will wear right at the mouth because of the pressure that is put on this area. Most of the time if a plane is worn in such a way that there is a gap between the sole of the plane and the wood right at the mouth, it will not plane as well; it is more apt to tearout and chatter. So oftentimes you can improve a planes performance by "flattening" the sole. The first step is to take a reliable straight edge and put the plane up to a light with the straight edge along the bottom. If you can see large gaps at the mouth, or if the sole is visibly bowed such that the toe, mouth and heel are not on the same plane it will probably benefit from flattening. If you can't see the gaps, you will probably not benefit at all, and could in fact make the plane dramatically worse.

Not much difference after all....

Ed DeLauter

>Well I have test driven both the Ulmia and ECE smoothers after there sole shots. They continue to perform well but whether there is a discernible difference in performance beats me.

As others have alluded to slight crowning has little impact on the plane's abilities.

I will be more reluctant in the future to correct such a condition.

Live And Learn,

Ed