On my wordpress blog ( https://bridgerberdel.wordpress.com/ ) I have been posting about building a low angle bevel down smoother. I now have it to the point of being able to set it up and run it a bit. As I had hoped, it so far seems to be leaving a brighter, smoother surface in figured hardwood than my #2. However, edge retention is pretty bad. I probably have a bit much clearance angle (too low bevel angle), and I can work with that. In the case that I cannot find a sweet spot with this stock block plane blade I'll be looking for a solution that might include one of the modern supersteels. LV has this blade in PMv11, which has a reputation for good edge retention at the usual grind angles, but I don't know how it will do at 25°. Anybody here have data about that steel or any other recommendations?
Thanks
Bridger