| |
| |
|
Restoring the Iron and Sharpening
A properly set plane shows an even halo of cutting edge
when the sole is sighted down. If the cutter has been
worn down through use and repeated sharpening, reshape
the profile before sharpening. Sometimes the block will
have shrunk, preventing the blade from aligning with
the sole. Fix this by filing the tang edge to change
the blade's lateral position. Both of these operations
are feasible because the tang and most of the iron is
just that, iron. Steel was an expensive commodity, so
blades for many tools, not just planes, were laminated
from a soft-iron body with a hardened steel cutting
edge. The contrast between the two is seen distinctly
after polishing the blade face or honing the bevel.
|
A properly set plane. |
|
| |
| If
the blade is badly damaged, major restoration, which includes
annealing, reshaping and tempering, often isn't worth
the effort, especially if it's a plane that cuts a common
profile. For planes worthy of restoration, try the following: |
| |
- Lap the blade face on a medium stone to provide
a consistent surface.
|
- Use either a magic marker or machinist's layout
fluid to coat the face. With the blade wedged
in place, use a scribe to transfer the sole
shape to the blade to ensure the two are matched
exactly.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Transferring the sole shape to the blade
using a scribe. |
|
|
|
