I went to a workshop on the basics of sharpening .... well, to be honest, this is pretty much the FIRST time I have ever sharpened anything. I have read about it, talked about it, but never done it. Most of the time it seemed too hard. Like you had to be a Master Craftsman to do it right. Needed jigs galore and thousands of dollars of equipment.
Well, our guy taught us some basics. Using sandpaper on glass, some stones, and for those that cant live without a plug, the Tormek.
Well, I aint scared anymore, except that he sharpened his iron for his plane then showed us what it can do. I even tried it. Yup, it was a Lie-Neilson smooting plane. Coming from a guy that hasnt held any plane over $10 in his hand, and smoothing out a cherry board slicker than any hand rubbed finish I could spend days on ... I am hooked !!!
I aint goin out and buying bunches of $300 planes, but now I know. Now I know what they feel like, and how they cut. And alot of what I read (here) makes alot more sense.
Thanks for all you guys sharing what you know and love.
Lee