Hello all.  My name is Adam Klaum.  I am 26 and am just starting out in 
woodworking.  I recently went to Colonial Williamsburg and that trip combined 
with my fascination with all things Roy Underhill has finally led me to dive 
in and try this out.  I am completely on board with the Galoot philosophy and 
want to learn to do everything the old way.  I am currently building myself a 
workbench per one of Roy's plans and have acquired a number of tools to do the 
project with.  I bought some tools new but also acquired a Stanley Bailey #4 
and #5.  I lapped the sole of the #5 and had a very helpful employee of
Woodworker's Warehouse grind the blade for me.  I then sharpened and used the 
plane for some dimensioning.  The Lever cap on the #5 is slightly chewed up on
the one side at the tip.  It makes contact with the cap iron all the way across
underneath but the very tip of the lever cap does not make contact all the way.
It seemed to plane fine to me.  I mean there was no chatter that I could tell, 
but, to be honest, this was the first time I had ever held a plane in my hands.
The question is should I (and is it even safe to) grind the lever cap straight 
across? Or should I leave well enough alone?  Also,  does anyone know any good 
sources for old tools around the Pittsburgh/Greensburg PA areas?  There is one 
rather pathetic flea market near me every Sunday, but let's just say it
is not a cornucopia of old tools.  Any good sources for wood in those areas 
would be appreciated as well.  I'll probably be keeping my trap shut for a 
while after this but I just wanted to introduce myself and give anybody and 
everybody a chance to tell me "all those things I wish someone had told me 
when I was starting out"  :-)
 
Thanks,
Adam