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I have used a soft Arkansas stone on every tool I have sharpened for over forty years. I never abrade it. I have recommended the soft Arkansas for people who abrade their hard Arkansas stones to make...

I have never put a finish on my bench. I made it in 1979.

At the time they were introduced, I pointed out that the "improved chipbreakers" were rendered ineffective. At the time plane manufacturers were selling high angle frogs and "bevel up" planes as...

I am a professional woodworker. I rate the early 20th century planes higher than current offerings. Nicer steel for the irons, nicer cap irons, lighter weight, nicer handles. If something were to...

It is easiest to flatten a board using a straightedge that is as long as the board. Long straightedges we usually make from wood because long straightedges are quite expensive.

If you want to...

We certainly were using planes at a high level centuries before there were people grinding soles by machine. So all that machinery is not necessary.

I haven't used sandpaper on wood or iron for...

You did not take to heart what was said before. Arkansas stones are polishing stones. They are not aggressive.

The trouble with aggressive stones is that they are harsh. They leave deep scratches...

Plane irons were thin in the 18th century, both double irons and single irons. The 18th century single iron I have is under 1/8 inch thick.

[QUOTE=Derek Cohen;3305332]Warren, I imagine that sharpening and set up, along with cutting angle, are all going to play a part. Who knows how many used a plane at an Event, and the standard to which...

I have been to about a dozen Lie Nielsen hand tool events, but I have never seen one of their planes produce a quality surface. I don't know the reason for this. It could be because of the high angle...

You can post pictures on the forum, just not see them.

We usually use half blind dovetails with the tail boards being the top and bottom for these little chests. The dovetails don't show on the sides.

Sometimes for small drawers we glue the bottoms on...

I have sharpened full flat bevel without grinding for over fifty years. Your main problem is buying these hard Arkansas stones without intermediaries. You can easily go from a fine India to a soft...

I have maintained my plane soles with planing for nearly 50 years. I always plane with the grain.

I can't imagine that sandpaper or or planing across the grain will yield the fine surface that I...

I don't think the guy you reference has done much research either. Thomas Nuttall brought back samples of Arkansas stones to Philadelphia in 1819. They were already being used as hones at that time...

I recommend an 8x2 stone.

A hard Arkansas would be near useless for you, as it would merely polish the tops of the ridges left by your coarse sharpening.

I would recommend a soft Arkansas....

A moving fillister is very important for cabinet work.. A moving fillister is a rabbet plane with a fence. It is best to have a fillister with an adjustable fence and a nicker for crossgrain. Most...

Somebody earlier suggested that the plane may be jamming at the corners of the mouth. You could test that by planing the edge of a board right down the middle of the plane.

I suspect that you are...

One thing that happens on tight mouth wooden planes is the the edge of the sole in front of the iron gets rounded over. It gets more wear with a tight mouth. If it is not a crisp corner, shavings can...

Higher polish and better control of the burr.

Insomuch as you refrain from hollow grind and secondary bevels, yes. However I polish with Arkansas stones and strop with bare leather., so no.

I think that if you treat an English chisel the way you treat a Japanese chisel you will be rewarded.

Toshio Odate, writing in 1983, says that chisels are sharpened with flat bevels because they perform better. Chisels made in England or America perform better with flat bevels also.

A chisel is a...

A flat bevel is helpful in hand work. None of these four sharpen with a flat bevel.

The makers of synthetic stones don't follow strict categories either. A 1000 grit stone can be quite different among different manufacturers.

If you expect a black Arkansas stone to cut like a...