On an episode of The Woodwrights Shop, Mary May shows a technique for sharpening carving gouges.

It is similar to what Steven describes @ > https://www.pbs.org/video/carving-aw...ry-may-tioglz/ < it is at about 14:30 minutes in. It also works well for me on cambered blades.

An 8" radius on a 2" blade should be about 0.063" at the center if my math is correct.

Actually if the math was done correctly here > https://www.handymath.com/cgi-bin/ar...i?submit=Entry

Arc Calculator.png

That is a lot of wood to hog out if the full width of the blade is to be used. It is the reason most scrub planing only uses the center of the blade.

Three of my planes are set up as scrub planes and another can become a scrub plane by simply changing the blade.

Scrub Blades.jpg

From left to right the blades are for a #5, a #5-1/4 and a #40. Not shown is a blade for a #5-1/2.

At one time it seemed like a scrub plane wouldn't be of any use in my shop. Then one day playing with a beat up #5-1/4 impressed me so much it seemed a good idea to convert some of my extra plane bodies. The #40 was offered by one or my favorite local tool sellers at a price I couldn't refuse.

jtk