Replies

1. 
   9619 | Sep 03, 2009 11:15pm | #1

   Clinton,
   Does the plane actually make shavings when you place the iron in it with the bevel up and with the bevel down, or does it seem to work better one way than the other?
   Mel

   Measure your output in smiles per board foot. 

2. 
   derekcohen | Sep 04, 2009 03:32am | #2

   Hi Clinton

   Mel's question is a good one: does it cut this way?

   In my opinion, the previous owner has more likely replaced the blade upside down. It is not unusual for these planes to be found this way.

   If you knew anything about the previous owner, the question to ask is "what type of wood did s/he work?". If would make no sense to plane softwoods, or even strauight grained hardwoods, with a plane set up this way.

   If one wanted a high cutting angle, adding a backbevel would be more common place these days. A backbevel of 15 degrees would give you a 60 degree cutting angle, and this would work very well on difficult grain.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   9619 | Sep 04, 2009 05:54am | #3

   Derek,
   Nice post. Thanks for the kind words.
   MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot. 

1. 
   clinton66 | Sep 04, 2009 03:44pm | #4

   I have not tried to use them that way. These were mostly owned by my grandfather and I got them after he passed away. He was more of a metal worker and not much of a wood worker but I think he got these planes from a friend of his who was pretty skilled with wood. I can only assume that with that steep of an angle you would get massive tear out since you're basically lifting the wood fibers straight up. I would think that to get it to function at all with the bevel up you would have to take a very fine cut and use it more like a scraper than a plane. My guess is since bailey type planes have been around for a long time, if there was a way to use the plane with the bevel up, someone would have discovered it long ago.

1. 
   9619 | Sep 04, 2009 04:23pm | #5

   Clinton,
   My guess is that you are correct. However, trying it out on some wood isn't going to hurt the plane. I hope that you have someone to pass the plane down to that will treasure a family heirloom as much as you. I knew a guy once who had a world-class collection of Winchester rifles, and he had two sons, neither of whom was interested in the collection. I asked him to adopt me. :-)
   Have fun, and good luck with your investigation. There are some old tools forums in which someone may have specific info on your plane.
   MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot. 

2. 
   derekcohen | Sep 04, 2009 04:27pm | #6

   I can only assume that with that steep of an angle you would get massive tear out since you're basically lifting the wood fibers straight up. I would think that to get it to function at all with the bevel up you would have to take a very fine cut and use it more like a scraper than a plane. My guess is since bailey type planes have been around for a long time, if there was a way to use the plane with the bevel up, someone would have discovered it long ago.

   Hi Clinton

   I am pretty certain that the blades were upside down by accident. However, something like this can be done deliberately. I have experimented with a blade that received a 45 degree grind. Used bevel up, this now created a 90 degree cutting angle ... in other words a scraper plane...

   Here is in a Stanley #4 taking shavings in Jarrah. Not as good a finish as a high angle smoothing plane, but the concept works if you need a scraper plane to finish a broad expanse of gnarly grain.

   View Image

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

   Edited 9/4/2009 9:28 am ET by derekcohen

   Edited 9/4/2009 9:32 am ET by derekcohen