On Jul 14, 2011, at 4:50 AM, gary may wrote:

>  do *like* the idea of paring with the work held suchlike, but it  
> never
> occurred to me.

Fly rod makers use a block plane with a groove rabetted down the  
center of the length of the bed.  They use a metal tapering jig that  
is very clever that allows them to make the hexagonal pieces that glue  
into the rod sections and make them tapered in a controlled fashion.   
The sole of the plane rides on the jig, while the rabetted part planes  
the piece - the blade never touches the jig.  How about a #3 or #4  
sized plane with a 1/16" or so groove down the length of the sole for  
the same purpose on a miter jack.  Better minds than I have looked at  
this for centuries, and I have never used a miter jack, but, hey, I'm  
just sayin'.

Ed Minch

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