Jim Foster
12-25-2013, 3:36 PM
I got a 55 deg frog to put on my LN #4 today. Only had time to try it very briefly. I have an old Bailey #3 set up pretty well, and to compare I took a shaving off of a piece of Apple with the #3 and the LN 55 Deg to start. Both the planes produced very nice shavings about .001" thick, the 55 may have produced a shaving that is a tad thinner. To test a tougher task, I grabbed a piece of Yellow Birch that is straight-grained, but very prone to tearout, and I took a quick shaving with the #3 and the resulting surface showed tearout or a dimpling on the surface. Used the 55 deg LN and the resulting surface was very nice. I prepared both blades equally, and truth be told, I think the #3 was/is sharper.
Luckily I have an old #4 and #3 Bailey that both set up very nicely (I think I have combined $30 or $35 into the two planes), so I plan keep the 55 deg frog on the LN smoother for difficult grains and to further investigate the benefits of a higher frog angle that have been written about in various publications and forums. I'll use the other planes for general smoothing. The #3 is a recent addition to my shop and I am surprisingly fond of it. It's very light and with the narrower blade is a very fun user. It is also about the same length as my other two #4's (The LN and an old Bailey)
Luckily I have an old #4 and #3 Bailey that both set up very nicely (I think I have combined $30 or $35 into the two planes), so I plan keep the 55 deg frog on the LN smoother for difficult grains and to further investigate the benefits of a higher frog angle that have been written about in various publications and forums. I'll use the other planes for general smoothing. The #3 is a recent addition to my shop and I am surprisingly fond of it. It's very light and with the narrower blade is a very fun user. It is also about the same length as my other two #4's (The LN and an old Bailey)