Plow plane irons seem "soft"
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- This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 2 months ago by btyreman.
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For the life of me I can’t get the irons for my record 043 plow plane sharp. I go through the typical process (with or without a honing guide at 25 degrees on diamond stones and strop), and once I get the burr removed, which is quite difficult, I still can’t slice through paper the way I can with everything else I sharpen.
The plane works for a few minutes on pine, but develops a burr and stops cutting within a few minutes. If I remove the burr, then it’ll work for a bit, but the burr just comes right back. It’s like the iron is just very soft. I’ve never had this problem before, but seeing as how I’m a newbie, it could be something I’m doing. Does anyone have any suggestions?6 February 2018 at 1:00 am #462807are these new blades, old blades? I think you are right, sounds like soft blades. If old blades I would take a file to the side of one and see how it cuts the steel if soft I would try to heat treat them. If new I would send them back. Looking at the pictures it looks like you could get some 01 steel off ebay and make your own blades. Watch Mr. Sellers video on how to make a plane blade which will show you how to do it.
The blades are old, I’m assuming. I purchased the plane on ebay, so I don’t know the history, but returns aren’t an option. I’ve seen the videos on making a plane blade, and I don’t think these would be too difficult. But, after doing a bit of googling, it looks like a set of replacement irons is available inexpensively, and veritas irons will also work.
my record no44 didn’t come with any blades so I bought some ray isles replacement blades, I would highly recommend them if you can get hold of a set, also make sure the bevel is 35 degrees not 30 or 25, that is very important, it is the only plane as far as I’m aware of that needs the slightly higher angle. It is probably developing the burr because it’s dragging on the wood when you pull back if the angle is 25 instead of 35.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 2 months ago by btyreman.
6 February 2018 at 6:00 pm #463195How did the angles look when you got them? Could they have been ground on a grinder and been heated too hot?
Be careful of the Veritas irons for the Record 044 plane. Not all of the Veritas irons fit an old Record. Best to try them in the plane first before handing over the cash. The differences are small but significant and only some of them will fit. The Ray Iles irons are made for the 044 so they will fit.
Cheers
Mark HAlso – Eric’s advice regarding using a file to check for hardness on the back, or the side of the iron is the best line of enquiry to follow first. If the file will not cut the iron, and just skates off, the iron’s hardness is not the problem.
Cheers
Mark Hinterestingly, I’ve just filed off the front and back edges on my no44 and checked for flatness on the sole, it was nowhere near flat and also filed off the edges of the depth stops, and now it’s working 10x better than before, no jarring, and it works perfectly, can’t believe the difference, night and day.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 2 months ago by btyreman.
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