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| Here are some of the things that I don't like to see when I'm looking at the sole of a used plane. One of them alone wouldn't make me walk away from a plane, but several of them would be enough for me to pass up a BARGAIN. Some of the most innocent problems are the hardest to correct. |
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This plane has very bad scrapes and scars along the center of the sole. That's the area that will actually be planing the bamboo. We want that area as smooth as we can get it. Remember, you'll be working with bamboo that's only .025 to .040 wide. A scratch in this area can allow the bamboo to ride up and catch, causing fibers to split out. | ||
| Another problem that I'll be looking for is the existence of chips and cracks along the edge of the mouth. (red arrows.) There are ways to deal with these problems, but they're some of the most difficult damage to overcome. |  |
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This plane has a subtle problem. It's something you might not even notice when you first look at it. The back of the toe is worn. This means that the front of the plane will ride on the bamboo until just before the mouth. At that point the sole lifts up away from the material, leaving a gap where we least want it. Believe it or not, this can be hard to correct! |
| Some of these problems can be fixed with a little thought, time and effort. Like I said, I've never seen a block plane that couldn't be brought back from the dead. (I don't think I'd go as far as having one with a crack completely through the middle of the sole welded. But I haven't found one of those yet.) But to be practical you'll want to inspect and carefully consider any used plane you pick up. A bargain isn't a bargain if it costs you more then a new plane of the same quality. |
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