johnward wrote:I can't get rid of the gap between the blade and chip breaker on my No.4 plane. My Nos. 3, 5 and 6 are perfect. I've tried tapping and grinding it but with no luck - maybe it's a duffer.. I mainly use my No.5 so can manage without the 4 but it would be nice to get it working again properly. It was present from my parents for passing the eleven plus way back in 1954!! I'd be grateful for any tips.
Many thanks,
John
It may be the actual angle on the cap iron that needs fettling. The way I’ve done them in the past is thus; place it on a dead flat sharpening stone (a coarse diamond is ideal) so that the edge is parallel to a long side. Support the other end (using a suitable block of wood) so that it’s
lower by say 4 or 5mm than the stone’s surface. Now move the cap iron up/down the stone keeping the edge parallel to the long side; you’ll start to wear away the back edge of the cap iron and eventually it will be left with a sharp knife edge. In practice, it’s only this edge that should be in contact with the cutting blade.
Not my method btw, but one that’s attributable to a certain David Charlesworth - Rob
I no longer work for Axminster Tools & Machinery.