The LN low angle jack plane blade come with a 25 degree primary bevel, although they suggest that you add a secondary bevel. On the other hand, the primary bevel on an LV low angle jack plane blade is a few degrees less than 25 and it has a secondary bevel that increases the effective cutting angle to 25 degrees. As I understand it, a secondary bevel trades more complexity in sharpening for less work and loss of metal. LN’s approach makes sense to me: I get a 25 degree bevel and adding a secondary bevel is my option. LV’s approach seems to require me to deal with a secondary bevel, unless I want a cutting angle a few degrees less than 25. Veritas/LV products seem to be extremely well though out, so is there an advantage to LV’s approach that I am missing?
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast -
Our favorite articles and videos -
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
From reading Leonard Lee's articles and books on sharpening, it's pretty clear that he's a big fan of secondary bevels. No doubt, that is why the Lee Valley plane blades are set up for them "off the shelf."
I don't think secondary bevels really add any significant complexity to the sharpening process; you grind/rough-hone at one angle and fine-hone at another--no big deal.
-Steve
Odd thing is that the LV blades are manufactured with a 5 degree bevel, while their honing jigs give a choice of 2 or 3 degrees, so if you're using the jig you have to change -- not that it's much work.
Chuck
Unless you are going to reserve your LA (bevel up) plane for end grain work, you will want a bevel angle greater than 25 degrees. The cutting angle of a LA plane, either LN or LV, is 12 degrees. Therefore a 25 degree bevel on a 12 degree bed leads to 37 degree cutting angle - far too low for most moderate woods and definitely too low for complex face grain. I use a 50 degree bevel (=62 degree cutting angle) for most of the Australian hardwood.
So consider that the 25 degrees (or there abouts) you receive might just be a starting point. Ideally you will want to have more than one blade, probably 3. This is one of the attractions of the BU planes - the cutting angles are easy to change by altering the microbevel. It is a simple matter to increase a 25 degree secondary (micro) bevel by grinding and honing at a higher angle.
Regards from Perth
Derek
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled