Fitting bench plane cap-irons.

[Cheshirechappie]

Lurking about somewhere in the back of my mind was the vague memory of having seen the following method of fitting a cap-iron to a plane blade, but I couldn't remember where I'd seen it. However, I've found it again, in 'Modern Practical Joinery' by George Ellis (pub.1902). His instructions are as follows.

"Having sharpened the back-iron to a fine edge on the oilstone, screw it fairly tight to the cutter, leaving about 1/16" [1.5mm] of the latter exposed. Next holding the pair very firmly on the bench, draw a hard bradawl, or the broken off end of a sawfile, along the edge of the back-iron; this will strip off a fine shaving of metal, and the operation should be repeated until it is impossible to see the slightest trace of light between the irons when the edge is held in a strong light, and the joint at the side, which is looked through, is shaded by the hand."

I can see this being a quick way of achieving a fit - if it works - but I wonder if there are any hidden downsides. Anybody tried this method?

 

[Corneel]

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/w...rz-blog/2-in-the-field-fixes-for-chipbreakers

He probably read the same book.

 

[G S Haydon]

I have CC, worked just fine. I think I used the edge of a flat bladed screwdriver. I love that book!

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Thank you, chaps! You've confirmed that the idea isn't a complete non-starter.

I suspect it wouldn't work if there's a gross disparity between cap and blade, which should then be brought close to a final fit by filing. The last slivers of gap could then be succesfully closed by Ellis' method.

The screwdriver as weapon of choice had occurred to me, but I wasn't sure if it would be hard enough, though on further reflection considered that you don't really want something hard enough to act as a cutting tool so much as something that will permanently deform the front edge of the cap-iron to fit the cutter. For that, you don't need ultra-hard, just hard enough. Screwdriver therefore probably ideal. (Good job for the screwdriver that this is a task that doesn't have to be done too often!)