Originally Posted by
Ted Calver
Thanks for showing the process, Tom. I appreciate the pictures and enjoy watching the progress. Keep 'em coming.
Same here.
I spent just under 4 hours grinding this plane. I also had about 40 minutes travel tine and I wouldn't have spent the time to use a machine that is designed to do one thing which is to remove metal if I thought I could use sandpaper and a piece of glass to flatten it. I know every body thinks they can flatten a plane but iron doesn't sand like wood
A machine can do the work with precision controlled by the operator. In your case it gives the added benefit of 90º sides.
Using sandpaper on a flat surface takes a different knowledge and skill set.
A plane with a slight convexity can end up worse when worked on by someone pushing it over sandpaper like a rocking chair.
In my limited experience I've seen a few planes with badly flawed soles brought into useable condition with a calculated use of sandpaper.
To tell the truth, if I had the machinery it would be my preferred method.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)