Replies

1. 
   woodrae | Apr 24, 2007 03:30pm | #1

   Ted—

   I use to use one of those planes, and the feel of wood on wood when planing is wonderful and unlike any metal-soled plane. Lignum vitae is a great wood for the sole because it’s naturally oily, so it provides some built-in lubrication for sliding that puppy over wood. To make it even more slippery—and easier to plane—you can use some paste wax or light machine oil on the sole occasionally.

   I’ve since moved on to metal-bodied planes because I find that wooden planes require too much fussing for me. Since they are wood, they will expand and contract over time due to wood movement, slightly altering the plane’s shape. Therefore, once in a while you should check the sole for flatness with a small straightedge, especially after a big weather change in your area. If the sole gets out of true, sand it by rubbing the plane on some sandpaper stuck to a dead-flat surface, such as your cast-iron tablesaw wing, jointer table, etc., using the same planing action you would when you’re planing wood, with even pressure front and back. Of course, you’ll do this without the iron projecting, and be sure to check your progress with the straightedge. Be careful when sanding that you don’t open up the mouth (make it any wider), which will quickly degrade the plane’s performance. 150- or 180-grit paper should do the trick. If you want the sole smoother, polish it up a bit with some 220-grit paper.

   —Andy

   
   

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   Edited 4/24/2007 8:40 am ET by woodrae

1. 
   mark2cut | Apr 24, 2007 04:06pm | #2

   Thanks Andy, these are very helpful instructions.  Ted