Replies

1. 
   Kleck | Feb 17, 2006 04:55am | #1

   Look at the bed angle of a BU plane.

   Then look at the bed angle of a BD plane.

   does that answer your question?

   HINT: you can't turn them around.

2. 
   DCarr10760 | Feb 17, 2006 06:00am | #2

   If you were to turn over a bevel-down blade so that it was bevel-up in a standard bench plane with a 45-degree frog, your 25-degree bevel added to it would make the cutting angle 70-degrees. 

   You just re-invented the scraper plane!

   Personally I have remained unconvinced about the benefits of bevel up, low angle planes for work other than end grain.

   I know you can have all these irons ground to give you the optimum angles for work in fussy grain and all, but I'd rather keep a low angle block plane for end grain, a standard angle for 75% of general work on most of my planes and a high angle smoother for the fussy stuff, and keep them always set up so I'm not always changing irons, except to sharpen.

   It means owning several planes, but somebody has to keep Mr. Lie Neilson in good red wine into the future!

   David C

1. 
   CharlieD | Feb 17, 2006 09:46pm | #3

   I agree, your described method works well. Nonetheless, my favorite and most used plane is the L-N #62; it's light and was inexpensive, by comparison. It's versatile. Adjustments are simple and quick. Changing the blade takes mere seconds; using one blade, I can still alter the cutting angle in about the same time as it takes to change a blade in a standard set up. Just workes nicely for me.Now, would I rather have one plane set and ready to go for every conceivable need? Yeah, I have to admit that I would. I think the #62 would still be my favorite, though.Charlie
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