Replies

1. 
   Terry823 | Apr 21, 2005 01:18am | #1

   I draw some squiggly lines on the sole with a Sharpie and then lap until the lines are gone.

   Here are some links that will answer just about any question you will ever have about handplanes.

   Hand Planes Knowledge Base

   Good luck!

2. 
   Peter36 | Apr 21, 2005 03:00am | #2

   Hello Jeff. Check that the surface that you are lapping on is truly flat. Leave the blade in, but fully retracted, and lap until the sole is covered in the same grit scratches. Draw marker lines all over the sole and lap a little more. Check the marker lines again. When the marker lines disappear at the same rate then the sole is as flat as the base you are using. All flattening is done on the coursest grit and all the other grits are only polishing the flat surface.              Peter

3. 
   cairns | Apr 22, 2005 06:22am | #3

   High Jeff

   My technique is the same as with the other replys I've read.  Here I've found that using "float glass" as a base reference by which I lay my sandpaper on I have a very accurate surface to tune my handplanes.  Float glass is simply manufactured glass which is flat to 1/10th of a millimeter (Australian standards) and is readily available from most glass suppliers.  Order a thick piece (10mm or more) and long enough to use on what eversize plane you have. 

   Enrico  

4. 
   GHR | Apr 22, 2005 07:42am | #4

   If you look at a plane, the front edge of the sole, the cutting edge of the blade, and the rear edge of the sole define an arc. The arc is the shape an undeformed plane will cut when used.

   In use a plane actually deforms to more or less conform to the shape of the board being planed.

   Following those thoughts ...

   The front of the sole should be coplanar to the back of the sole. The front being .001" more or less depending on your taste out of plane with the back. The blade edge should sit in the plane defined by the rear sole.

   (I guess that is also the way that machine jointers are set.)

   However you lap the sole, you will get the "wrong" result.

1. 
   Peter36 | Apr 22, 2005 12:47pm | #5

   George, there are a number of good articles on tuning a handplane out there. You should pick one up.