>>
> Tom H. wrote:
>
<
> >   If I'm right about this, then all surfacing is like a delicate
> >version of a scrub, in which the shaving is a slice of wood scalloped out
> >from between those little strips of sole on each side of the mouth.
>
> Yes! And a revelation trumpets across the world in these millenial times.
> This is why bench planes are NOT like p*wer planers or jointers and why
> trying to think of them as such is a fallacy.

And Tom Price agreed...

>
> Even when the wood is narrower than the width of the mouth, we often skew
> the plane body somewhat and the 'rails' adjacent to the mouth are brought
> into play to some extent.
>

I'm not trying to defend the model my maths was based on. It's poor.

But I can't agree with this one either. (so we're still looking
for the right model IMHO).

If the side strips were critical, and performing important "work"
surely they would wear. And being small, surely they would
wear A LOT?

        BugBear.

(who still wants to know how planes work. Next stop: a careful reading
of George Langford's post)