Hand plane surface

[Randall Houghton]

Hi
I'm new to the creek and I was curious if any of you have noticed a difference
in the surface texture of timber planed with a metal plane as compared to the
same timber plned with a wooden plane? I've tried several different bevel and
bed angles and it seems like a metal plane always leaves a more polished
surface than a wooden plane. Is the metal burnishing the wood or is it the difference in weight? Does that mean old time cabinet and furniture makers
werw unable to get a burnished surface? What do you think? Sorry about the long post.

Randy
Darksider(It's magic when wood comes to life)

[Charlie Mastro]

Well this will open a can of worms...

Remember you will get everyone's opinion here and really it depends more on how the plane is set up as to wheter it's metal or wood.

Period

[Mike Wenzloff]

Hi Randy,

Not noticed a different surface between the two. But there are other factors such as if wax is used on the sole of the metal plane, there might be transfer to the wood's surface. Or the bedding angles may not be the same, sharpening slightly different, or...the phase of the moon...sorry.

Burnishing may not be a desirable surface depending on how the wood will be finished. Finish will absorb differently on a surface that changes in the degree of burnish.

That said, I have intentially burnished pieces that were only waxed as the finish, or Teak oiled and then burnished. The burnish process is done with a piece of wood...

Take care, Mike