Hi all,

Because its existing blade is too soft and won't hold an edge, I've
decided to replace the blade on my Norris A-5. The plane is one of the
later production models with a gaping mouth. I've currently got it
shimmed to an .012 opening. 

Because they're not adjustable, blade thickness is pretty important, and
I'm trying to decide between buying one of Ron Hock's standard infill
blades or having a custom blade done. I asked the group this question
several years ago, got busy and neglected to save the replies. My
Norris, has been sitting on the shelf ever since, sad and neglected, 
because it's no fun to resharpen every fifteen minutes. If I remember
correctly, the responses were that the mouths where somewhere between
.006 and .008 in. but somehow that doesn't seem right.

Seems pretty tight, but, on theother hand, I do get some tearout at .012
in. I don't want
to screw this one up, because there will be hell to pay if I'm even a
little too thick. So if any contented yuppie bastahd infill owners would
like to run a feeler gage through the mouth of his or her pride and joy,
and speak to the agony, or ecstasy, of plane with that configuration,
I'd be appreciative.

Randy Roeder           --Repaint houses, not old tools.