I'm curious about how a wooden single iron plane with a pitch angle of 60-80 degrees would perform, especially for tough grain. I'm basically envisioning something similar to a toothing plane, but without the teeth to leave a smoother surface. How challenging would it be to push this kind of plane?
4 Answers
I've tried using a high angle (around 62 degrees) on tricky grain, and the results were hit or miss. It does help a bit more than the standard 45 degrees with tearout, especially on figured hard maple. I took light cuts, so it wasn't too bad to push, but it's definitely noticeable. I've mostly switched to scraping methods instead, as they work better for me.
Just so you know, I assume you're referring to a bevel down plane. The higher the angle, the tougher it gets to push the plane. It's pretty similar to a scraping plane in function. If you're serious about minimizing tearout, investing in a double iron plane is the way to go—it's more effective than any other type!
Honestly, it won't leave you with a very nice surface without a way to break the chip. If you want to see what I mean, try using a chisel or something similar!
What you're describing sounds like a scraper plane. It's great for tackling tough grain and giving a nice finish, but it doesn't remove material quickly due to the high angle. So, it might be a bit slow going if you're looking to get a lot done.
Exactly, it’s mainly for cleaning up tearout after using a regular plane.