In a message dated 97-09-01 22:27:13 EDT, Ernie writes:

<< A skewed blade has three angles of interest. The skew angle, the beddinga
angle and the bevel angle.
>>

To which I must add, the relief angle of the right edge and the anti-relief
angle of the left edge, which as I've already noted, are different on 46
cutters. I defined the relief angle as that angle defined by the flat
cutting surface of the blade (the surface facing the front of the plane in
use as opposed to the beveled surface) and either side edge of the blade, as
measured 90 degrees to the edge. As I noted earlier, without the proper
relief angle, the trailing edge of the blade would drag in the groove cut by
the plane, or if too much relief were provided, the cutting edge might have
insufficient support at that edge.

Ernie seems to have a great handle on wording these things, so perhaps he can
take a stab at clarifying what I've just tried to say. 

Thanks for the great input, Ernie.

Don