Foreign 102 block plane

[DavidB]

Apologies in advance if this prompts one of those sharpening "debates", but I was wondering if there's a consensus on the honing angle for this block plane I picked up on ebay- just the standard 30 degrees? It's a bevel-up affair with the iron bedded at ~25 degrees.

It has "FOREIGN" cast on the body- I'm assuming this is the manufacturer? I've never heard of them so any info on this fella's origins would also be appreciated...

Cheers!

 

[Admiral]

I sharpen mine at 25 deg, at 30 you'll lose the edge pretty quickly on a high carbon steel iron.

 

[GLFaria]

If that's a brand name, I think only a chinese would brand a product "Foreign"...

With such a bedding angle, I don't think you have much choice - i't either 25 (bedding) + 25 (bevel) + 2-3(honing) = 53 degrees cutting angle or up. Not lower (I wouldn't go to a 20 degree bevel on a plane of dubious quality).
On my 13 degree bedding block plane I sharpen at 25 degrees and hone at 30, and have a spare iron ready for honing at a steeper angle if need arises.

 

[matthewwh]

'Foreign' was often stamped into items manufactured in Axis countries after the war, 'Made in Germany' wasn't much of a selling point at the time.

 

[JohnPW]

I've read that "Foreign" mean German made. The reason given is that Germany was less than popular after the World Wars.

 

[DavidB]

Thanks all for the responses- 25 seems to work fine. Interesting bit of history, although stamping Foreign in lieu of a brand name (rather than just leaving it blank) seems a bit superfluous.
Cheers,
DB

 

[Sheffield Tony]

With such a bedding angle, I don't think you have much choice - i't either 25 (bedding) + 25 (bevel) + 2-3(honing) = 53 degrees cutting angle or up. Not lower

Just noticed this ... you could of course go lower by using a back bevel - I used 20 one side, 8 on the other. Whether it is worth the bother is debatable.