New shooting board eliminates the need for a no.51

[section1]

I suppose this thread will most probably start some noise amongst the purists dedicated to tool makers but this isn't my intention, I just want to pass on my own personal findings.

I built a ramped shooting board according to Derek Cohen's 5° ramp angle, I honed a 35° secondary bevel on my low angle jack and let me point out firstly it made no difference in shooting between bevel up or bevel down they both gave me the same consistant results and ease of planing whether I planed softwoods or hardwoods.

I have been using this shooting board consistantly for the past 12 months and the results are outstanding, I have also used the standard flat board and it's ok but no where near as good as the ramped. Having said all that the main reason is not just the shooting board but the 35° secondary bevel, it stays sharper for much, much longer and it slices through most timbers like a dream but I am avoiding to use the word like butter as I'm not referring to those timbers that tool sellers like to use at trade shows. Many people have claimed that 25° bevel is what you use on end grain but as for me I found that didn't work.

I was seriously considering for a very long if I should purchase either the veritas 51 or the LN but I just do not see the need since this is working for me.

[planemaker]

Sound advise. Appreciate hearing your findings.

Stewie;

[Godfrey]

Thanks for sharing. I have been using at 25 degree secondary bevel on my low angle jack plane but based on your findings I will try a higher angle bevel and see if I get better results.

[derekcohen]

Thanks for sharing. I have been using at 25 degree secondary bevel on my low angle jack plane but based on your findings I will try a higher angle bevel and see if I get better results.

I have used a 25 degree bevel on a LV LA Jack A2 blade for several years without any failure. The lower angle will make shooting easier and leave a cleaner finish. The cutting angle here is 37 degrees. By contrast, a 35 degree bevel will add another 10 degrees and create essentially the same cutting angle as a bevel down jack plane (which is 45 degrees). While the edge here will be stronger still (which is unnecessary), I cannot see how it will leave a better finish than the lower angle.

I have done extensive testing of all formats. Here is just one: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRev...tingPlane.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Twisted Tenon]

Any chance of some Pics in the New Year section1?

TT

[Godfrey]

Thanks for sharing Derek. I've read a fair bit of your website and learned a lot so I suspect you're right but I also learned a long time ago to "trust but verify" so I'll be doing a few tests to satisfy myself.