Wondering about my block plane setup

[Jeff Ranck]

Why are there pencil marks at the sole? Some new technique?

Naw, that is the use of graphite as a lubricant to make the sole slide easier rather than wax or oil.

[Derek Cohen]

I must admit that I had not noticed it, and cannot recall why it is there. Probably not deliberate. The only time I would scribble on a sole is when lapping it, and this #103 did not need lapping. My first thought was that they were scratches, which is possible, since the plane has a long history of use (the first new plane I ever purchased, about 20 years ago).

Regards from Perth

Derek

[john zulu]

Naw, that is the use of graphite as a lubricant to make the sole slide easier rather than wax or oil.

Hahaha. I can see the application for graphite.

[john zulu]

I must admit that I had not noticed it, and cannot recall why it is there. Probably not deliberate. The only time I would scribble on a sole is when lapping it, and this #103 did not need lapping. My first thought was that they were scratches, which is possible, since the plane has a long history of use (the first new plane I ever purchased, about 20 years ago).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks Derek for the reply. Yeah. All my good planes have scratches at the sole and it can bug me quite a bit.

[Bill Houghton]

Or, if what you need is a plane for coarse work, you could get, say, a Stanley 220.

[Jim Koepke]

Hahaha. I can see the application for graphite.

Great when working with ebony.

jtk

[john zulu]

Great when working with ebony.

jtk

Good point! Thanks!