I've been having a blast collecting and restoring vintage hand planes, and I'm considering whether a budget B grade granite surface plate would be a decent setup for flattening the soles. I know using it can give some issues when granules get on it, but I'm okay with that since I'm not spending a fortune on a higher-grade option. Should I look for glass or granite off-cuts instead? I checked local granite suppliers, but their materials come from downtown Houston, which is a bit of a trek for me. I'm also a little concerned about glass breaking when I handle it. By the way, I did find some small slabs nearby for $20-40, which seems promising!
3 Answers
A surface plate may be overkill for your needs, especially since a larger one can be quite pricey. Melamine would work just fine, or look for a tile or countertop offcut. There's a stone place nearby that sells remnants for cheap, or you might want to invest in a machined aluminum straight edge instead for better reference when checking flatness.
Honestly, as long as it's flat, go ahead and use it. No need to overthink it!
You could definitely glue sandpaper to MDF instead if you're looking for a simpler solution! It's flat enough for the job and a lot lighter.
True! Glass might also work for flattening, just be careful with it because it can break easily.