Thread: Plane sole flattening, again...

My bad, it's a 9 1/4. Since nobody else has any constructive comments, what do you think about this plane as the next subject of my study DW? I've sharpened it and it looks like the sole has been worked with a belt sander. Works okay for remodeling tasks. The paint is dark blue.

stanley 9 14.jpg

?

Looks like a good candidate. I'd have more comments but the level of flatness and fineness of finish are certainly uncharted territory for me.

The 9 1/4 was probably belt sanded at the factory, and if not then, flattened by a tradesman since. I can't argue with that as a method for carpenter work, but not that great for fine work.

I'd also comment more if I didn't have raging bronchitis. I think I'm on the surface of another planet, and am doing important client work today. Sort of like doing work drunk, except I don't drink.

Yep, duty calls for me too. Hope you feel better. I don't know how much better the WoodRiver plane will get, each time I think I'm close to being done it improves.

3 micron lapped data.

Plane flattening study 052519b_Page_8.jpg

Had to change my test block, the original was too worn. The variability in the heavier cuts is likely due to the presence of a small knot that I had to work through toward the end.

Lapping now with 1 micron compound in an effort to get a shiny surface for the optical flat.

1 micron lapping of WoodRiver block plane 052519a.jpg

Here's the plane after lapping alongside a lapping block that I use for chisel backs.

1 micron lapped of WoodRiver block plane and small lapping block 052519a.jpg

Very flat surfaces will 'wring' (stick) to each other. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_block#Wringing

First the two surfaces are pressed together to expel trapped air.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane being wrung to small lapping block 052519a.jpg

Plane and block wrung to each other.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane and wrung to small lapping block 052519a.jpg

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519b.jpg

And now inverted.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519d.jpg

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519c.jpg

And now with long axes perpendicular.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519e.jpg

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519f.jpg

And now on the side.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519g.JPG

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519h.JPG

It appears that the plane is too soft to take a gloss but the wringing shows that it is now very flat.

<The minimum conditions for wringability are a surface finish of 1 microinch (0.025 μm) AA or better, and a flatness of at least 5 μin (0.13 μm).>

KISS Principle. (Keep it simple stupid)

The following is the modern version of a Stanley # 60 block plane.

# 220 grit Wet & Dry sandpaper on float glass.

Using WD-40 as a flushing lubricant.

Note the sole is locked in tension via the lever cap.



Note the scratch free surface at 220 grit. (88 microns)

No finer micron medium is required.

Originally Posted by rob streeper

Lapping now with 1 micron compound in an effort to get a shiny surface for the optical flat.

1 micron lapping of WoodRiver block plane 052519a.jpg

Here's the plane after lapping alongside a lapping block that I use for chisel backs.

1 micron lapped of WoodRiver block plane and small lapping block 052519a.jpg

Very flat surfaces will 'wring' (stick) to each other. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_block#Wringing

First the two surfaces are pressed together to expel trapped air.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane being wrung to small lapping block 052519a.jpg

Plane and block wrung to each other.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane and wrung to small lapping block 052519a.jpg

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519b.jpg

And now inverted.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519d.jpg

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519c.jpg

And now with long axes perpendicular.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519e.jpg

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519f.jpg

And now on the side.

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519g.JPG

1 micron lapped WoodRiver block plane wrung to small lapping block 052519h.JPG

It appears that the plane is too soft to take a gloss but the wringing shows that it is now very flat.

<The minimum conditions for wringability are a surface finish of 1 microinch (0.025 μm) AA or better, and a flatness of at least 5 μin (0.13 μm).>

Rob,
Most of what your doing is going straight over my head.
But the reason why you’re doing it I appreciate 100 percent, I can not stand listening to the argument
“That’s just because that’s how we do it”
No I want to know why and the reason behind it I carry a sizeable burn scar on my left upper arm because as a five year old i wanted to know why (an now [emoji849][emoji849] inpatient).

The pics with wring very impressive.

Cheers Matt,

Originally Posted by planemaker

KISS Principle. (Keep it simple stupid)

The following is the modern version of a Stanley # 60 block plane.

# 220 grit Wet & Dry sandpaper on float glass.

Using WD-40 as a flushing lubricant.

Note the sole is locked in tension via the lever cap.



Note the scratch free surface at 220 grit. (88 microns)

No finer micron medium is required.

In what context is this helpful in any way Stewie,
Rob is just conducting an experiment for science sack.
If you thinking lapping till 220 is all that is needed great.

But there are politer ways of putting your thoughts across.

Matt[emoji849].

Originally Posted by planemaker

KISS Principle. (Keep it simple stupid)

The following is the modern version of a Stanley # 60 block plane.

# 220 grit Wet & Dry sandpaper on float glass.

Using WD-40 as a flushing lubricant.

Note the sole is locked in tension via the lever cap.



Note the scratch free surface at 220 grit. (88 microns)

No finer micron medium is required.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

In what context is this helpful in any way Stewie,
Rob is just conducting an experiment for science sack.
If you thinking lapping till 220 is all that is needed great.

But there are politer ways of putting your thoughts across.

Matt[emoji849].

Since I've lapped this plane down to the point that it will wring I beg your indulgence as I test its cutting prowess one more time. Then I'll start lapping the back of the blade.

(P.S., now that it will wring I've realized I can store my planes by wringing them to a flat plate screwed to the ceiling!)

At this point I'm confident in saying that flatness of plane soles does matter.

Look back over the data I've presented in this thread. The plane lapped at 60 microns could only produce a consistent surface when set to cut 0.001" thick shavings. After lapping to 3 microns it can produce consistent 0.008" shavings. At each intermediate step in the lapping process the finish of the cut surface got better.

I'd be interested to hear some constructive thoughts.

As an aside, I like this article: https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...g-data/250820/

More on wringing, NIST pubs so no copyright worries.

gauge blocks wringing films appendix b_Page_1.jpg

gauge blocks wringing films appendix b_Page_2.jpg

gauge blocks wringing films appendix b_Page_3.jpg

The Gauge Block Handbook.pdf

Here is the plane bottom examined though the comparator up against the 2L (2 micron lapped) standard.

1 micron plane bottom compared to 2 micron lapped standard in GAR comparator.jpg

The standard is on the upper right of the field, it's pushed up a bit to differentiate it from the plane pictured on the left (horizontal line). Once again, the plane bottom is consistent with what it should be.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapping#Accuracy_and_surface_roughness
<Surface roughness and surface flatness are two quite different concepts.>