TomTrees wrote:Bill Carter published a recent video of a plane and remarks on the thicker than normal iron...
"It works a blooming treat"
I've cut to that part in the vid https://youtu.be/w4hSLV2MCmE?t=192
Thanks for posting that. And, how did you get the link to start at that point?
It seems to me that the thinner a piece of metal is the more likely it is to vibrate under the same conditions as something thicker. I’m guessing the real reason old plane irons were so thin is because tool steel was more expensive years ago than it is today. It’s certainly seems much easier to make given the stock prices I’ve seen? The Japanese tool makers seem to have the right idea. Back a thin piece of high carbon steel with a thick piece of Iron? There are some contrarians out there but I’ve not seen anything to convince me. Just because you can make something work well doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good design, or indeed, can’t be improved. I’m sure the Ford Model T was very good in its day but thankfully car design didn’t rest there on its laurels.
I’m putting a potential purchase on the back burner as I’m wondering how difficult it would be for me to make my own plane given I have some machine tools. I’d probably need to buy an Iron though if it’s to be successful. Don’t watch this space, it could take me some time!