Steve, Yes I sharpen mine as with any other cutting tool early and
often. The dirty little secret of the toothing blade is the fact that it
too is a flat backed tool. In flattening the back one creates what
amounts to a cutting edge of many mini plane blades. Somewhere I once
read the trick was to hone the bevel edge and tap the cutting edge into
the workbench to remove the burr. This will not work. The tool will not
be sharp. You can see a picture of a properly tuned toothing blade on
the lee valley web site. They make several which are excellent and are
sold pre tuned. Except that I use a different bevel angle.

Tuning up the toothing plane is just like any other plane. Begin with
joining the sole squaring it to the sides if need be. Address any
concerns with the bed, mouth, frog, wedge etc. Flatten the back of the
toothing blade, grind the bevel and hone.

The toothing plane is helpful in thicknessing or truing figured wood or
against the grain and for prepping for glues that require that type of
surface. I would not think of it a prepping for the scraper. I just need
to go to the scraper to get the finish I need. My ideal is to plane
only. While your at the Lee Valley site notice that many scraper planes
are sold with toothed blades. For that really frustrating impossible to
plane wood.

Mme4u2meh@a... wrote:

>Hello all,
>
>Does one sharpen a toothing blade like a regular planing blade, taking
>care not to overheat the small projections?
>
>I have been reading from older sources that a toothing plane was used
>for readying a surface for gluing that is to be veneered. Newer
>sources state that a toothing plane is also used for readying a
>surface for scraping with a card scraper, sharpened piece of glass, or
>the like. I found a John Bell toothing plane at a very reasonable
>price. The blade is well used, but seems to be full length. It still
>works for the latter purpose very well it it's present condition. I
>wish to improve upon its performance. Has anyone attempted to sharpen
>a toothing blade before?
>
>Steve Kumpf Philadelphia
>
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