Dave Cottrell
03-25-2010, 8:08 AM
I am making a tool cabinet out of a recycled piano. Underneath all of the old veneer, the large panels are made of smaller pieces of red oak. Of course, the grain goes every which way, and, since this was to be veneered, knotty boards were not selected out.
I am not looking for a glass smooth surface, like a table top, but I would like to get it as sooth as possible for shop use. There are lots of character marks, like worm holes, nail holes, spelching from the LN Chisel plane I bought to remove the veneer (ABSOLUTELY the best $200 I ever spent on a tool needed immediately), so I am leaving them in.
My problem is how far will a sharp smoother plane go (or card scraper)? I can get it to the point where flat sections of grain are smooth enough, but the dark rings of grain, which are so open they look like end grain, are still rough to the touch. I don't want to drive myself crazy trying to do with a plane what most people do with grain filler.
BTW, I can see lots of uses for that chisel plane!! Everybody should have one of these!!
I am not looking for a glass smooth surface, like a table top, but I would like to get it as sooth as possible for shop use. There are lots of character marks, like worm holes, nail holes, spelching from the LN Chisel plane I bought to remove the veneer (ABSOLUTELY the best $200 I ever spent on a tool needed immediately), so I am leaving them in.
My problem is how far will a sharp smoother plane go (or card scraper)? I can get it to the point where flat sections of grain are smooth enough, but the dark rings of grain, which are so open they look like end grain, are still rough to the touch. I don't want to drive myself crazy trying to do with a plane what most people do with grain filler.
BTW, I can see lots of uses for that chisel plane!! Everybody should have one of these!!