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purpose of a frog

1K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  Sylvain 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
hi, i am slowly learning how to use and adjust a hand plane. what does the frog do. thanks Mike
 
#2 ·
Well a couple things depending on plane. Lets assume a Bailey or clone. For one it hold the iron at the bed angle. So for example on a Lie Nielsen plane you can buy frog with a 50 degree or 55 degree bed angle etc. The other is it slides forward to back which effectively can change the mouth opening and/or align it with the back of the mouth(which can add rigidity and make it less likely to "chatter"). Some have 2 screws to hold it down, and some have a 3rd screw which actually slides it forward and backward.
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
SMP has it exactly right, the frog allows the plane iron to be positioned close to the front of the throat or away from the throat edge depending on the needs of the work, and still hold the iron rigidly. That capability is exactly the feature Leonard Bailey patented back in 1855. Interestingly, Bailey never called that part a "Frog". His patents call it a cutter seat and cutter holder.
... So now you know, something new to forget…
Regards, The Kentucky Toolsmith!
 
#5 ·
Bailey never called that part a "Frog". His patents call it a cutter seat and cutter holder.
... So now you know, something new to forget…

The funny part about that is I once called it a "blade" and was very quickly corrected that it was actually called an "Iron" not a "blade", by some know it alls.

- SMP
Yes some need to denigrate others to feel good. Iron or blade, cap iron or chip breaker, makes no difference. Language changes over time. We don't speak old english anymore.
 
#7 ·
As said above,
the frog hold the iron at a bed angle;
the frog can be moved forward and backward, although most people will never change this setting;
the frog holds the means (yoke, depth adjuster) to advance and retract the iron to adjust the shavings thickness;
the frog holds the lateral lever to bring the cutting edge of the iron parallel to the sole;
the frog has a screw to hold the lever-cap and adjust its pressure on the cutting-iron/cap-iron assembly.

https://paulsellers.com/2015/07/understanding-the-frog-in-your-throat/
https://paulsellers.com/2015/07/understanding-the-frog-in-your-throat-part-ii/

For an easy adjustment, the iron/cap-iron assembly must be able to slip between the lever-cap and the frog. Keep everything smooth and oiled. Adjust lever-cap pressure as needed.
 
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