Plane blade advice.

[JJ1]

I currently have the Veritas Low Angle Jack plane with a 25 degree A2 blade. I would like to purchase a second blade and see there's the option of a 38 degree or 50 degree blade.
Which one do you think would be the better option? My budget won't stretch to both unfortunately.

I have a small amount of the following species that I would like to work with in the near future (hence the reason for the second plane iron); Mahogany, Ash, Maple, Walnut, Cherry, Sapele and Iroko.
I mention this as I'm not sure if those species will be fine with the 38 degree iron or if I'd be better off going straight to the 50 degree one.

 

[Peter Sefton]

I would buy the 38 degrees blade that should work well on most of those timbers. The Sapele may benefit from a higher angle. I also feel it is easier to maintain a 50 degrees secondary bevel on a 38 degrees blade than going straight for the 50 degrees grind as you have remove a lot of steel to sharpen it at that high angle.

Cheers Peter

 

[JJ1]

Thanks Peter, that's a big help

 

[bugbear]

I would buy the 38 degrees blade that should work well on most of those timbers. The Sapele may benefit from a higher angle. I also feel it is easier to maintain a 50 degrees secondary bevel on a 38 degrees blade than going straight for the 50 degrees grind as you have remove a lot of steel to sharpen it at that high angle.

Cheers Peter

Perfect answer (which means it's the one I would have given)

Admiration, n.: Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.

-- Ambrose Bierce

BugBear