Lever Cap Position When Advancing Plane Iron
Here’s a question to the gallery. Once the plane iron is laterally adjusted, do you:
A. advance the plane iron, if necessary, with the lever cap locked?
B. advance the plane iron, if necessary, with the lever cap unlocked?
C. set the lateral adjustment and depth of cut at the same time?
D. do something else?
Is there a “right way”?
Edited 2/18/2009 2:34 pm ET by Cubby
Replies
Try not to overthink it. You want to have just enough tension on the lever cap so that you can still make adjustments to your iron, but that it won't move when in use. Lateral adjustments can be made at any time that you are not getting full width shavings. If your iron is only cutting the wood on one side, you need to adjust the iron (assuming you've ground and sharpened it square). You do not want to be adjusting the depth of cut with the tension off of the lever cap. As soon as you engage it again, the adjustment will be moved.
If your lever cap is too tight to be able to adjust the depth, then take your screwdriver, and back the screw off 1/4 turn, and try again. The only time I have to adjust the tension on the lever cap is when I sharpen the iron.
Jeff
OUTSTANDING ADVICE! I will never again have an issue with this. Thank You. Ron Baird
jeff,hear-hear.
thanks,
eef
Jeff's advice is entirely correct with reference to the usual Stanley type planes with the lever type cam device for applying pressure to the iron/bed.
But if you are using a plane with a cap that relies on a screw to apply pressure such as the Norris types or other custom planes then you need to back off that screw a bit.
And then there are those which you hit with a hammer ..... (;)
GOTCHA! Thank You. Ron
Yessir, Master Marcou!!
I was referring to the stanley type planes only! Your lovely creations are a completely different story.
Jeff
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