Planes Wood v Steel

[newt]

I have recently been using a couple of wooden planes a smoother and a jack. It appears that the wooden planes leave a smoother satin like finish compared to say a steel smoother. I thought it may have been the wax polish on the sole but this is not the case. My steel smoother has a polished sole but it does not leave such a smooth satin like finish. Why is this, I have taken no measurements would not no how to anyway, just an interesting observation. The wooden planes also IMO make a more pleasant sound compared to the steel.

 

[pam niedermayer]

My best guess, after years of using Japanese smoothers and polishers, is that the wooden plane burnishes the surface of the item.