I’ve been working on lapping the soles of recently purchased block and jack planes using silicon carbide grit on glass and plastic laminate. The block plane has not been much trouble, but the jack plane is taking a LONG time. I’ve now nearly got it flat – indelible marker on the sole wears off with a few passes on the abrasive – but the factory grind marks are still quite prominent. Is it important to keep going until the the machine marks are gone completely? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Geoff2
Edited 6/26/2005 9:15 pm ET by Geoff2
Replies
What matters is flatness and not removing the machine marks. Check your glass with a straight edge along the length width and diagonals. If everything is good then mark the sole of your plane with marker and take 2 passes. The marker should be removed at the same rate. If it does not dissappear at the same rate it is not flat. Peter
Geoff... like Peter says, the only important bit is flatness. Leaving some "texture" in the grind marks can be of benefit; if you wax your sole fro lubrication, the grooves will hold slightly more, and gradually release it rather than allow the lot to be smeared off a perfectly smooth face in the first few passes...
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Thanks Mike and Peter - I, and my arms in particular, are grateful for the advice. Geoff
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