Question about HNT Gordon planes

Re: Question about HNT Gordon planes

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Mitch,

I have an HNT smoother although I haven't used it as a scraper. The reason you can use it as a scraper is that the blade is bedded at 60 degrees. When you use it bevel down the effective cutting angle is 60 degrees. When you flip it over the effective cutting angle becomes 60 degrees plus the bevel of the blade. It also opens up the mouth. If you put a bevel of 25 degrees (which is what Terry recommends) then the cutting angle would be 60 + 25 = 85 degrees. For you to make your smoother work the same way you'd have to use a 60 degree bedding angle. Although I guess you could do 55/30.

Skip

Re: Question about HNT Gordon planes

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>As Skip said, it's pretty much the bedding angle. I have used my Palm Smoother as a scraper, also the full size smoother, which pretty much dulls the blade too much to use as a smoother without significant sharpening. So I'd half-heartedly recommend getting an extra blade so you can dedicate one to scraping.

Also, since you seem to have an interest in making one, the HNT blades are very thick.

Pam

Re: Question about HNT Gordon planes

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Mitch

The HNT Gordon smoother, with blade reversed, makes a superb scraper plane. Possibly the easiest and best scraper plane I have used (I also have a Stanley #112 with LN blade and two #80s). But, as Pam mentioned, it does dull the blade quickly. Probably no more than any other scraper plane, but it is a hassle if you are also using it as a smoother and need it then-and-there. So, it you plan to do so, get an second blade, preferably the HSS version.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Question about HNT Gordon planes

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Ah, so you think the dulling is normal for scraper planes? I've never used any other official scraper plane; so that's very interesting.

Why do you prefer the HSS blades?

Thanks,

Pam

Re: Question about HNT Gordon planes

Derek Cohen (in Perth Australia)

>Hi Pam

I assume that the blade dulling is due to the blade's greater resistance (owing to its vertical orientation in scraper plane mode) as it moves across the timber surface. It certainly builds up more heat as well, and this probably also contributes to the dulling.

Why HSS? Simply because it has a reputation for being more durable. All the HNT Gordon blades I have are the basic Tool Steel versions, simply because of cost, and these have proved durable and capable of a fine edge in bench plane format. Those who use the HNT Gordon HSS blades, however, have nothing but positive things to say. I have one HSS plane blade, for a Mujingfang, and it is incredibly tough, outlasting its sibling Tool Steel version by an order of at least three times. If you were going to dedicate a blade to scraper use, then you need all the help you can get.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Question about HNT Gordon planes

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>The HSS blades do hold an edge well. Just don't drop them on concrete. They literally shatter! DAMHIKT