Sharpening a shoulder plane blade

[AndyT]

I've started making a shoulder plane, a bit like Pekka Huhta's, and have a question about the blade. I know that it has to come fully up to the side of the plane to make sure that the edge cuts right into the corner. But why do some shoulder planes have the sides of their blades bevelled? It can't be to actually make a cut on the side, can it? Is the bevelled side actually sharpened to an edge?

Andy

 

[Karl]

Hi Andy

The side of the blade isn't sharpened - it's probably bevelled just to make it look nice.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Joe]

I've started making a shoulder plane, a bit like Pekka Huhta's, and have a question about the blade. I know that it has to come fully up to the side of the plane to make sure that the edge cuts right into the corner.

I believe the blade needs to protrude a fraction in order to cut a clean corner.

Joel

 

[DaveL]

Andy,

It may even be bevelled on a shop made shoulder plane due to it being a bevel edge chisel that has been pressed into service as the iron for the plane.

 

[AndyT]

Thanks everyone - now I understand.

I'll post some pics when I have finisihed it.

Andy

 

[bugbear]

It can't be to actually make a cut on the side, can it? Is the bevelled side actually sharpened to an edge?

Andy

No - this is a disaster!

I once carefully lapped and sharpened the blade of a wooden skew rebate.

As anyone who's cut their finger on the sides of a carefully prepare chisel will know, careful back prep has "side effects"

As I was attempting to cut a nice neat rebate, the sodding plane was cutting not only downwards, but sideways!

BugBear

 

[Frank Drew]

Andy,

Typically there's at least a small flat at the arris, where the blade back meets the side bevels. As BugBear notes, a three edged plane blade would be very likely to give you a nice cut sooner or later.

 

[ivan]

There's a plough/combination bloke in Australia (Duvall?)who says their blades need a relief grind up the sides, important for good results, he says. Haven't tried it yet but it's mentally marked down for trial. Could be worth a try on the sides of a shoulder plane blade? (lack of relief may make cutting into corner more difficult to achieve)

 

[SammyQ]

Jake Darvall aka "Apricotripper". Jake has posted some of the most innovative and well reasoned articles I have ever seen on Stanley 45's/55's, rebate planes, plough planes. His surgery and welding (yes folks, welding) to modify planes can be 'rough as guts' I think he would say, but 'ye gods' do they deliver. I wrote to Rome for Jake's immediate beatification, some time ago, but they haven't got back to me yet...