Lee Valley Plane Iron

When I got my Stanley SW #3 I decided to get a new iron for it. Since Lee Valley was having a nice little sale last week, it was the perfect time to get one. I've been using a Lee Valley back iron on my #5 and really like it. It was time to try one of their irons.

The original SW #3 iron and back iron next to the Lee Valley/Veritas set.

Another note about back irons (sort of)...

Ok, so I just gave you a bunch of thoughts and opinions and glossy pictures talking about the fun of tuning a back iron. How 'bout I throw a monkey wrench in the works and say that the size of the mouth is more important? And then, once I've said that...how bout I post a picture of my favorite smoother? A tiny little five and a half incher, with single 1/4" iron and a tight mouth. Let's not forget the 55 degree cutting angle. Yeah, this plane pretty much rocks.

Yup, love this thing.

Back irons, pt 3

In part two we looked at the back iron for a jack plane. Now lets have a look at the role of the back iron in a smooth plane. I have an old Lakeside #3 size plane that I've never been able to tune all that well, don't know why, but I have just had a hard time with it. Like my jack plane, it has a two inch iron. Anyway, the fit of the cutting iron and back iron looks decent. Let's see how it performs.

The smoother set to go. I have the back iron set at .010" from the cutting edge.

Back irons, pt 2

Ok, so I said in part 1 that I would prep the back iron for my Stanley No. 5. Here goes...

Here I have cleaned up the leading edge of the back iron. I put it in a honing guide and ran it over some 600 grit sand paper. If you look close at the leading edge of the cutting iron, you'll notice that some knob decided to drop it right before taking the picture. (shhhh...I'm the knob)

 

Back irons, pt 1

Back iron. Chip breaker. Call it what you will. It's part of the hand plane puzzle (unless you use only single iron planes).

The back iron from my old #3 smooth plane.