New sole or Insert

[Doug Mason]

In a related thread, the question arose as to weather one should use a new sole or an insert in rehabing the sole of a wooden plane. For those w/experience, why do you choose one over the other? It seems to me that a new sole w/epoxy would just be quicker and more acurate.

[Jim Nardi]

I judge it on the condition of the whole sole. If there's alot of cracks and checks that can't be easily planed out. While it might seem simplier to add a new sole it's really alot more work.

[Bob Smalser]

The advent of modern glues and power jointers in home shops have relegated chopping graving pieces into the throat obsolete by around 60 years. New soles are faster to do and better in every single respect. And if you don't have a power jointer, your neighbor probably does.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/4029780/49877179.jpg

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=8351&highlight=rehabbing+woodies

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/4029780/267867288.jpg

In boatbuilding where an 800lb workpiece can't be moved to a machine, and heavy and fragile cast iron planes and working overhead on scaffolds don't mix well, many woodies remain the best tools for the job.

[Wilbur Pan]

One issue to keep in mind when dealing with a wooden plane is that if you recondition the sole of the plane by planing it, you'll also be enlarging the mouth of the plane. Depending on the use of the plane, this might be a big deal -- probably not significant for a wooden jack plane, but it could ruin the performance of a wooden smoother.