Thread: Good v Cheap planes

What are you missing out on? FWIW, I reckon you are missing out on:

1. easier work - a really good plane does the same job, but does it more easily
2. better finish - a really good plane does its job with less tear out, meaning that you need to do less sanding (if any)
3. more versatility - because a RGP does its job better, you will use it to do more and more and look to it to constantly: you will use your plane to do things that you previously used other tools for

Like you I have spoken of "a really good plane", not a more expensive plane. I have never had a Groz, but if it is like some other cheap planes, it is fundamentally sound and, if it has a good quality blade in it, you can make it a RGP by proper tuning. The only things that can't be fixed easily is a twisted casting of the main body and a crappy blade!

Otherwise, you just need to go over each component and make sure it is straight and square and then make sure that each component fits properly with the rest. This usually means:

1. lapping the sole so it is flat
2. lapping the cheeks so they are flat and square to the sole
3. squaring the mouth
4. squaring the frog mounts on the body - lugs and the mouth mount
5. squaring the frog base so it sits square on the body lugs and especially in the mouth so the frog sits firmly on the body
6. lapping the frog top so the blade will sit flat on it
7. lapping the edge of the cap iron so it makes a square and flat intersection with the blade
8. sharpening the blade (tooooo many steps here - but do polish the back)
9. assembling the lot, tightening screws so that they hold firmly but not so that they put a strain on the body

If you aren't happy with the blade - replace it with a better steel. You may need a new cap iron. But if it takes and holds a razor sharp edge, don't bother unless the blade chatters (but that tends to mean that there is a problem with the support of the blade by the frog or of the frog by the body - so look at that first).

As a final thought, go to someone else's place and use his or her RGP. You may find that you already have one. In any event, it will show you what makes a RGP

Originally Posted by jmk89

As a final thought, go to someone else's place and use his or her RGP. You may find that you already have one. In any event, it will show you what makes a RGP

I think this is what I really need to do and I probably knew that.

I bought the Groz at Carbatech in Melbourne and Carl was very helpful. I didn't know what I was looking for so he pulled them all out and examined them and gave me the best best of the bunch.

I lapped the sole and got it into pretty good shape mind you it did take a long time.

I have never noticed any chatter.


I have a hunch that a better plane would hold it's edge longer but I don't know. My sharpening sessions seem to have good and bad days but that would be down to my technique which is improving all the time (and I do polish the back )