Bugbear wrote

	Damn your eyes, sir!

	Having seen a Japanese plane "in the flesh" at the recent APTC
	show in the UK, I was think of taking an *ngl* gr*nd*r to a
"spare"
	modern(English) Stanley #4, removing "hollows" from the heel and
toe
	middles, and then flattening the remaining sole (3 point
contact).
	I was going to use my Samurai laminated blade (more out of
	"mojo" than any though that it's my ultimate blade; I have
	aster market blades by other makers that are its equal)

	I have thought that:
	* Lapping is easier (very little metal is begin flattened after
the rough work)
	* there will be definite pressure at the front of the mouth
(reducing tear out?)
	* there may be a burnishing effect from the high pressure
(pressure = force/area)

	Out of interest the much-derided Sam Allan shows almost this
process in his
	plane book, athough he only make "scoops" in the sole, not full
width
	hollows. And he's working on a #9 1/2.

	Being a ruminative sort, I hadn't got round to it, yet. But I
was going to
	do it, and report (hopefully in triumph) to the Porch.

Sorry old chap, but Clifton have beat you too it, too!

My #7 arrived concave. Worked on it a bit and now the toe up to the
mouth, the mouth and
½ behind plus the heel all touch the straigt-edge.

Point is though, I paid full price. Shame!

	Steve Forman.