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161983 Don McConnell <DGMcConnell@c...> 2006‑07‑19 Re: Toothing plane question
Ken Pendergrass wrote:

Regarding a toothing plane iron:

>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. ...

I hesitate to wade into this, as Ken has used toothing irons in his
work far more than I have. But, unless I'm misunderstaning his
meaning, it seems to run counter to what I've understood concerning
the sharpening of toothing planes/irons for veneer work.

Here is a quote from _Spons' Mechanics' Own Book_ (sixth edition,
1901) which reflects what I believe to be the traditional approach:

"... Besides the ordinary planes, the cabinet-maker uses a
'toothing' plane. This has a stock similar to the hard wood hand-
plane, but the iron, insead of having a cutting edge, presents a
series of sharp teeth to the wood. This serrated edge is formed
by long narrow grooves on the face of the iron next the wedge, and
when the iron is ground in the usual manner those ridges terminate
in sharp points. In setting-up the iron on the oil-stone, only the
ground back [i.e., the bevel] is applied to the stone. ... "

Do you feel this discrepancy arises from today's manufacturing
processes for toothing irons? Or does it arise from different
usages in instrument making? Or do you simply feel the
traditional advice is incorrect?

Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR
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Recent Bios FAQ