I have been a woodworker for a while but never got into the hand tool craze, probably because I am a technologist by profession.
Now that has changed, I have fallen in love with my chisels and Japanese saws, and I have been picking up a few chisels. Nothing fancy, a couple of wood Japanese planes, 1 a jack and the other a smoother. I also have 3 Groz, a 7, 5 and a 4 I think. A couple Stanley, a block and an old rabbit plus a Bailey low angle block. I have perfected my sharpening, or so I believe, I use a Jet sharpener and ceramic stones to make a nice razor sharp hollow ground edge. I have set my edges about 2.5 degrees higher than the normal angles to make up for the hollow grinding.
The chisels are great and the couple planes I can get adjusted properly cut silky smooth translucent shavings on hard maple and walnut. But the issue is getting them adjusted. I usually get one of two situations, no shavings (or dust) or the plane won't move due to the big bite I am trying to take.
Is there a rule of thumb for how much blade is to stick out thru the sole? If there a "trick" to getting it there? Or is this strictly an eyeball type of process? I was thinking that if I set the plane on a flat softwood surface, and adjusted the plane iron till it was flat on the wood and square to it, then gave it a good nudge, it would be fine (didn't work very well). I would appreciate any helpful suggestions.
Neil Larson