Popular Woodworking 2004-08 № 142, страница 24

Tricks of the Trade

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Faster Plane Sole Flattening

For good performance, the sole of a hand plane must be reasonably flat. The typical approach is to rub the plane on an abrasive-covered piece of plate glass that is reliably flat. (When rubbing, always ensure that the plane is in working tension, with the blade installed and retracted.)

One approach is to attach wet/dry silicon carbide paper to the glass using spray adhesive. An alternate method is to sprinkle the glass with lapping powder. The problem with using abrasive paper is that it loses its initial sharpness rather quickly and must be replaced frequently for aggressive cutting. On the other hand,

lapping powder (available from Lee Valley Tools, 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com) can easily be replenished, but it will eventually wear a hollow in the glass, thwarting your flat reference surface.

I've found that the best approach is to combine the two techniques. I begin by using #100-grit paper, lubricating it with water as I rub the sole on it. As the abrasive loses its bite, I simply add #80- or #90-grit lapping powder to it as necessary, along with a bit more water. The result? An aggressive cutting surface that doesn't hollow out in use.

Paul Anthony Popular Woodworking contibutor

Lighten the Look Of Tabletops

There are times when a tabletop needs to be thick and substantial, such as a trestle tabletop that lacks a supporting apron. However, a thick top can adversely affect the proportions of the table, making it look clumsy and top-heavy. A simple fix is to thin the underside of the edges. When viewed from above, this makes the top appear a lot less thick.

Thinning the edges can be done with a panel-raising bit in a router table. Because you're removing a fair amount of wood, take several light passes, removing no more than V8" at a time. If available, use a variable-speed router run at a slow speed. Alternatively, you can bevel the edges on a table saw, feeding the top on edge against a tall auxiliary rip fence, then clean up the cuts by hand planing or sanding.

William English Avon, New York

m

7/m

m

Undercut with router or saw

Shape profile if desired

CIRCLE NO. 102 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD.

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Popular Woodworking August 2004