Old dunlap smoothing plane

[FREDRICK MATAS]

I inherited an old Dunlap smoothing plane. I decided to see what I could do to tune it up...then I discovered the bevel angle on the blade is 35 Deg's!!! It looks very professionally done! I have always sharpened my plane blades at 25 Deg's and put a micro bevel on them. Does anyone know why someone would put this steep of an angle on a plane blade?

[Bill Houghton]

As long as there's clearance, I don't see a problem. The previous owner may have felt it would generate a stronger edge, or maybe s/he was planing difficult woods. Or didn't know what the standard sharpening angle is.

Some of those Dunlap planes are actually quite good, even though they were a "second-grade" line.