How best to setup an old Stanley Bailey no. 6?

[kooshball]

I just cleaned up (clean enough to use, not clean enough to display) an old Stanley Bailey no. 6 plane and plan to replace the stock iron which is in bad shape with a Hock. The question is: should this type of a plane iron be ground with a crown or left essentially square? In case it helps, I plan to use this to flatten boards until I justify buying a jointer plane.

Thanks

 

[Mike Davis]

A little crown wouldn't hurt but I have seen people get carried away. I would just knock the corners off and maybe add a hair of crown each time I sharpen it until it got it the way I want it or I get used to the way it wants to work.

 

[Bill Clemmons]

Have you flattened the sole of the plane? Wait until you get the new blade and flatten the sole w/ the blade installed, but not exposed below the sole.

Bill

 

[kooshball]

Bill, the sole is dead-flat already (I got lucky). I set it on my table saw top and can't see a flashlight come through it anywhere. I also put a straightedge down its length just to be sure and it registers flat. At this point I just need to decide on how to grind the new iron, put the new chip breaker on it and start making shavings.

 

[mshel]

I just cleaned up (clean enough to use, not clean enough to display) an old Stanley Bailey no. 6 plane and plan to replace the stock iron which is in bad shape with a Hock. The question is: should this type of a plane iron be ground with a crown or left essentially square? In case it helps, I plan to use this to flatten boards until I justify buying a jointer plane.

Thanks

As another option, Lee Valley sells blades and chip breaker sets that are as good if not better than the hock blades. I have both and lean more towards the LV sets. LV's are actually cheaper too.

Mike

 

[CatButler]

IIRC, The Schwartz wrote a blog entry saying the LV blades actually fit a bit better too. No filing of the mouth required.

Disclaimer: I've never actually tried them.

As another option, Lee Valley sells blades and chip breaker sets that are as good if not better than the hock blades. I have both and lean more towards the LV sets. LV's are actually cheaper too.

Mike

 

[froglips]

As you intend it for flattening boards, I think a moderate camber is what you are after.

Not extreme like a Jack and not dainty like a smoother.

Square iron used on faces tends to leave plane tracks. Nothing wrong, but means other steps to remove. The camber does make life easier and ensures winning lottery ticket numbers.....

Schwarz has plenty of blog posts on camber specifics.

Later on, I think you have a wonderful shooting plane there. Which is great with a square edge.

You are a lucky duck on the flat sole

Jim