Aargh! Should I Grind or Should I Post?

[LocalOak]

Ok, another problem.

I got my Veritas Low Angle Jack today, very nice except there is a ding in the plane where the sole and the wing meet. Its not big but it stands proud of the sole and will score a small groove with every stroke. I've talked to the seller who was very helpful and is happy for me to return and replace it, but that will take a good few days.

What I'm wondering is whether I should simply lap the sole to remove the ding and not worry or whether, just like a crash helmet, this could have weakened the plane so I should get another one.

Part of my dilemma is a large pile of oak, waiting to be turned into a bed, crying out for a good jacking that I really want to get on with. However, just having spent a fair few quid on a new plane I want to make sure that I get one that will last. I can wait if it is necessary, but if I am making a mountain out of a moleding then I want to get on with the job in hand.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Toby

 

[mr]

if the ding is on the sole and not near the mouth then chances are it wont affect operation adversely. If the ding spreads round the corner and goes up the wing - you have to think whether that might affect use on a shooting board which is where the LV LA jack excels. Any chances of a photo? Lapping it out is likely to be a few hours work I would have thought (having never lapped a steel plane only wood) - what value do you place on your time ? The other option may be to file the burr edge of the ding away, without seeing it it's not possible to say for sure. But then if one buys new, one expects new condition on receipt. Not much help I know but some things to ponder praps.

Cheers Mike

 

[dchenard]

Ok, another problem.

I got my Veritas Low Angle Jack today, very nice except there is a ding in the plane where the sole and the wing meet. Its not big but it stands proud of the sole and will score a small groove with every stroke. I've talked to the seller who was very helpful and is happy for me to return and replace it, but that will take a good few days.

What I'm wondering is whether I should simply lap the sole to remove the ding and not worry or whether, just like a crash helmet, this could have weakened the plane so I should get another one.

Part of my dilemma is a large pile of oak, waiting to be turned into a bed, crying out for a good jacking that I really want to get on with. However, just having spent a fair few quid on a new plane I want to make sure that I get one that will last. I can wait if it is necessary, but if I am making a mountain out of a moleding then I want to get on with the job in hand.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Toby

I get those once in a while, seems ductile iron is more prone to that.

Since I'm past the "shiny new tool" stage :wink: , having owned my LAJ for a number of years now, I just take a fine file and get rid of the ding. A bit of 120 sandpaper and I'm back to work. No need for lapping.

DC-C

 

[LocalOak]

Mike

I'll try to get a picture but that involves camera to web to embedded picture so may be a little while...

The ding is on the left hand side and I shoot right-handed with the right hand wing down so it probably wont affect that. The problem ding is slightly south of the mouth and on the angle between the sole and the wing.

To be honest I'm less bothered at the idea of spending a couple of hours with a flat surface and some fine grit than concerned that the structure of the plane might be compromised.

Toby

 

[mr]

It would have to be an evil deep ding to damage the structure of the plane. I would have thought that if you're happy to fettle a new plane then you're best served by filing away material that is scoring the workpiece. On the basis that a small ding isn't going to jeopardise overall flatness as long as it isn't in a crucial place - ie behind the mouth etc then lapping possibly isn't the best route to follow. However if you start filing you could make it worse at least cosmetically if nothing more. If you search the forum theres a thread I started about similar - I put some pretty nasty scratches in the sole of my jack but they don't affect performance at all.
Cheers Mike

 

[George_N]

If it's brand new I would send it back for a replacement. I know the feeling of being desperate to put the tool to work, but for me it would always bug me that it was dinged. It's a different story when you've had it a little while and ding it yourself...that's what happens to working tools. Send it back.

 

[David C]

I think this talk of hours of lapping is most misleading. Removing enough metal to get back to pristine surfaces is totally unrealistic not to say impossible.

If the ding is not too big a few moments will get rid of the raised part. Couple of swipes with fine file followed by a little sanding, flat block 240 wet a dry, or a fine slipstone.

When finished a good scrub all over with 0000 wire wool and autosol chrome polish will greatly reduce friction (on all metal planes).

best wishes,
David Charlesworth

 

[LocalOak]

Thanks for all your advice and I'm just about to head off to the Post Office to send it back.

The reason? I'm pretty sure I can get rid of the ding and make it flat but if I mucked it up I'd be far more frustrated than I am now. And I would also have this niggling doubt about whether there was a deeper problem.

And it also means I can concentrate on digging the garden, making Christmas presents for my nephew and neice and clearing the ground for my new workshop (up from a tiny makeshift shed to something a bit more substantial, and insulated)

I'll do ding recovery when I make them, not when they are someone else's responsibility.

Toby

 

[David C]

Good decision.

David

 

[mr]

Thanks for all your advice and I'm just about to head off to the Post Office to send it back.

Toby

For the best I think.

Cheers Mike