Reply by jtrz

Finally getting a chance to respond.

Sharpening has been put on hold because after hours of frustration using my new arkansas stones and getting scratched surfaces instead of polished surfaces I realized that my hard and black stones were not flat. The black was especially bad. Luckily, I contacted the company and they are sending me a replacement set that should be here soon. I was really pulling my hair out before I realized that.

This may or may not have been the case when you did your restoration, but the plane should be fully assembled with the blade retracted when flattening the sole. This puts the same stress on the metal that is present when the plane is being used and will make it more accurate.

- Roy Turbett

All of my sole flattening has been done this way. I’ve been using granite tiles and they have been working really well.

jtrz, apply mill file to the non-square side of your guide.

- ksSlim

Oh. As far as your guide goes. One side is flat and the other is curved. That one point of pressure keeps it registered against the flat side. Perfectly fine.

- TheFridge

There is nothing wrong with your honing guide. They are designed this way. It is the three legged stool principle. A single contact point on the curved side pressing the iron against the flat side to prevent wobbling.

- pdbailey40

You all are right. I watched a video of someone using the guide on youtube after I posted and saw that his was the same way.

Try just wax, no other finish.

- Don W

Ditto

Wax only like don said on rosewood. It’ll darken but lighten up once it dries.

- TheFridge

I’ll give it a shot. On another thread on this forum someone mentioned that the tote and knob were walnut which I kind of agree with but I’ve done a lot of research on rosewoods, especially old rosewood, and I’ve seen examples where it look pretty brown. So who knows. I’ll throw some wax on it and see how it goes.

I’ll post with updated pics as soon as I can

-- Jeff | Louisville, Ky