back bevel epiphany

[eddy merckx]

Holy crud, I just tried a hand plane with a back bevel on the iron. It is supposed to help with tear out in figured grain. I can testify that it really works! I had all but given up using a plane on a Maranti table top with striped reversing grain. I kept tearing chunks out, even with a razor sharp blade. Out of desperation, I tried a tiny 15 degree back bevel on the blade. Shazzam, no tear out. It is like magic. It even goes over knots without tearing. Anybody else tried this?

Eddy

[cabinetman]

Yes I've tried it and I was more excited than you. I think my back bevel was a mistake because when I did it I had no idea what I was doing. Another revelation you might fall to is the difference in a regular block plane and a low angle. Try that and see if you can quit grinning. Oh, BTW, I like the shavings that are almost transparent. They make such a musical sound shearing off.

[eddy merckx]

Man, the hand plane slope just keeps getting more slippery.

Eddy