Replies

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jan 30, 2005 05:03pm | #1

   If there's anyone out there who understands the "Theory of Compliments" I'd be interested in learning more about it.

   Are you married??  LOL

1. 
   tms | Jan 30, 2005 07:00pm | #2

   Yes,
   And for long enough not to question whether I am the blade or the board.Tom

1. 
   notDusty | Jan 30, 2005 11:42pm | #3

             Tom ,

                           " You can do it her way now , or later "

               Why yes dear , I think that is a wonderful idea .

                  

1. 
   joinerswork | Jan 31, 2005 03:45am | #4

   "Oh, and by the way, you look lovely tonite." Theory of compliments!

   Cheers,

   Ray

2. 
   douglas2cats | Jan 31, 2005 04:59am | #5

   I'm stumped. When I first read this I assumed that it must somehow be derived from the theory of complimentary angles and right triangles. Ex: for a 30 deg angle, the complimentary angle is 60 deg. For the life of me, I can't figure how that relates to the application you mentioned though. If you get this figured out elsewhere, let us know what you found.

    

   I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.

3. 
   Michmesquite | Jan 31, 2005 05:33am | #6

   Tom

   I do not get a flat surface with my scrub plane. I get a plowed trough!!

   _________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

4. 
   WillGeorge | Jan 31, 2005 05:56am | #7

   http://www.bowyersedge.com/complements.html

   Seems reasonable to me..

1. 
   tms | Jan 31, 2005 07:23am | #8

   Gee Will,You're no help at all! Dean Torges website is were I first heard of this theory, so I seem to be chasing my tail here.It seems reasonable as described by Dean, but I was hoping to get an another, corroborative explanation. I thought surely with all of the hand tool experts on this forum, that someone could enlighten me.Tom

1. 
   MisterT | Jan 31, 2005 02:21pm | #9

   I think "complements " is a misnomer.

   Actually all you are doing is reducing the effective cutting or contact area of the cutting edge.

   the body of the tool "rides" the shape  of the material and the cutting edge removes small increments of waste.

   this improves accuracy by being more forgiving.

   the wider contact of a flat blade produces more area that mat or may not be in the desired cut plane.

   so you make more ridges and/or gouges, instead of removing them.

   eventually your small gouges achieve a "uniformity" and you switch to a finer material removal system.

   Not unlike sanding with a finer grit.

     

   Mr T

   I can't afford to be affordable anymore

1. 
   tms | Feb 02, 2005 07:04pm | #10

   That's the best description of the reason for the radiused blade that I've heard yet. Thanks.Have you heard of this theory before? Or was this simple deductive reasoning on your part? I'm looking for the origins of the theory of compliments as well.Tom

1. 
   AlanWS | Feb 02, 2005 11:47pm | #11

   Another way to put it would be that if you let the tool wobble a bit, it makes the cut surface more like what you want, rather than less like it, as would be caused by edges digging in. So it's more forgiving. No, I'd never heard of it either, and wouldn't count on it being broadly applicable. Compliments, on the other hand, are useful in many areas.