I have been running a thread on "shooting" edges with a shooting plane. I got several responses suggesting that a jointer plane might be the correct tool for "jointing edges". This raises a question in my head regarding which jointer.
Certainly these pages have been buzzing for some time now regarding the specific ways chip breakers can prevent tear out. The other emerging news seems to be that with a chip breaker one may be able to use a blade at a lesser angle, providing an even smoother surface. I imagine these "truths" hold true for jointing edges as well as working surfaces. Certainly many of us have LA/BU planes without chip breakers and wooden planes with thick BD blades, which may be fine for softer hard woods and reasonable grain.
The other factor I wonder about is the physical dimensions and blade angles of planes used for jointing. In the other thread I ran some people even copped to using block planes for shooting small pieces. Certainly the little planes get used frequently to relieve edges...So my question becomes how long and wide does a jointer need to be? To answer my own question I suspect the answer relates to specific work. Typically shorter planes for shorter boards. It is fairly easy to figure out that a 26" jointer might not be necessary to joint a 1 foot board. To over simplify, the plane body, via it's length, is suppose to ride over valleys removing humps until the board becomes level, but how wide apart might those humps be?
I know some posters here do not feel the need to own a #6 or #5 1/2. Some of those who like the #6 or #5 1/2 do not care for the "other" 1/2 size different plane. Some seem happy doing most of their jointing with a #5 1/2 or #6 and may not own a #7 or #8. Then there are some who make monster 26" or more wood planes for jointing.
I wonder if, starting on the small end, a # 5 1/2 might actually work fine for joining boards up to 24" maybe 36". Those who may want to prepare the entire edge of an 8' board and then cross cut out needed pieces might want a longer plane. I think we may have a poster on these pages who uses a 5 1/2 for most of his work. I am guessing many boards were jointed with a #6,#5 1/2, #5, #5 1/4....back in the day. Regarding the chip breaker and blade angle I am wondering whether the edge of a board might be more or less in need of a chip breaker and higher/lower blade angle?
Now that we have a plane maker who will make frogs for BD planes at custom angles, might this option offer some interesting new approaches to preparing boards for joining as well as for surfacing?