Patrick Leach wrote:

~ It's also possible that Mr. Kingshott measured a single example of
Norris' ~ work, with his particular one was pitched at 47.5 (Norris
would custom make ~ stuff to order), and then proclaimed this to be
the standard.

~ Perhaps some more measurements are needed. How about the others
following ~ this string, who own yb's. Care to measure yours (this means
you Randy, Mike, ~ Ray, Andrew, Pete, Jeff, Vince, et al)?

I've just measured my dead-loss-gaping-wide-mouth-Late-Norris smoother.
With the protractor from a Starrett Combination Set, I make mine to be
46-1/3 degrees! (Stock of protractor against the sole and the rule
sighted against the underside of the blade).

Now what do we make of that? I have measured as carefully as possible
with this equipment.

~ I've gotten perfect results on the bitchiest curly maple with my
common ~ pitch smoothers.

I have often wondered just how much difference 2-1/2 degrees can make.
When backfacing an iron to increase the cutting angle I reckon I got
nearer to 60 degrees or even more, which still planes wood, if a bit
grudgingly. This is fine for acrylic resin sheet and Formica since the
edge lasts longer and is less fierce on the resin sheet.

Basically, I agree about the standard pitch. All you need is a highly
tuned Stanley or Record, ;-), with the finest mouth possible. This takes
precedence over cap-iron setting, whatever some books and other writers
may say about "chip breaking".

--
Jeff Gorman - West Yorkshire jeff@m...