Hi,
I'm new to the Sawmill Creek community and after lurking around the Neanderthal Haven I've had most of my most pressing questions answered. So a great big thank you to all those who went before me! I recently bought a used Stanley no. 5 and have been in the process of tuning it up. I just tuned up a Stanley no 4 using float glass and sandpaper but I think there was something wrong with me technique because it the marker lines i was using to test started to wear unevenly.
I read that people use belt sander belts and that they last longer (I went through an unbelievable amount of sandpaper) so I bought some and will try again with the no.5 (and probably redo the no.4). My question is what is the suggested motion for sharpening bench planes? Is it a planing motion or a figure-eight motion? I've seen videos with mostly the planing motion and that would work best with the sanding belts. But thats how I did the no.4 and I'm wondering if I was applying uneven pressure.
Any tips or suggestions on the proper motion and the where/how to hold the plane? The sole isn't that badly out of true, but my OCD side wants to make things look clean and newish before I start using them...
Thanks to everyone for their help and I'm thrilled to be joining.
Peter