Way back when Garret Wade first marketed the Paragon hand plane, I picked up a number 4 smoother. Their claims of tighter tolerances and the "improved" lever cap that was to hold the iron tighter for a "better planing experience", swayed me into the purchase. It is, and always has been, a sharp looking plane with the Padauk handles and the fancy lever cap. I lapped and polished the back of the blade to a mirror shine, honed the front edge at 30 degrees to a similar mirror edge, and shaved hair and sliced paper to verify it was ready to be put into use.
However, once I installed the iron in the plane and tried to take a shaving of pretty much any wood, I would get chatter from the plane. I've tried opening and closing the throat, replaced the iron and chipbreaker with thicker Hock units and I still get the same results.
Over the years, I will pull it out, try to plane some wood, and then return it to the tool cabinet after if kicks my butt again.
I picked up a Primus pear-bodied wooden smoother to take over the duties of the Paragon, and it is a beautiful plane that works great.
But the Paragon continues to mock me, even after all these years.
I pulled up some threads on the Paragon here recently and decided to attack the issue anew. I'm convinced that the problem lies in the frog area and feel it is allowing the chatter to occur. I took the frog out entirely and inspected the mating surfaces where it contacts the plane body. I don't remember if most other planes are similar, but the Paragon has four pairs of machined surfaces where the frog mates to it, a pair at each corner. Two pairs behind the mounting screws and two at opposite ends near the throat. Here is an image of the plane body with the frog upside down below it. You can clearly see all the mating surfaces.
Slide1.jpg
I have the impression, (ain't convinced of anything under the circumstances), that the mating surfaces on two opposing corners show more wear than the other two. (The two with the arrows pointing to them.) I put the frog into the plane on the mating surfaces, and without the mounting screws tightened, am able to rock the frog slightly side to side. I realize that tightening the screws down would hold it more securely, but am thinking that it is not being held tightly enough, hence allowing the chatter when I put it into use. I have tightened the screws to the point where I worry about them stripping with no changes occurring.
Seeing as this plane has been like this from Day 1, I'm thinking it's a manufacturing defect. (I've spent way too many years thinking it was something I did. Or didn't do.
Finally, my question. Before I take a file to the frog, and try to adjust the mating surfaces to a point where all four areas mate at the same time, I'd like some other opinions as to other possible solutions to my issue. I've been able to make all my other planes work for me, jointer, jack, steel and wooden smoothers, LA jack, shoulder plane and block planes, so I don't think it's me, but am willing to entertain the idea if you come up with any good alternatives.
Thanks for any help you can provide
Clint