Comments on: Why Can't I Tame This Countertop?

By: Gregg Counts

Gregg Counts — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:24:44 +0000

Chris, thanks for taking the time to suggest a 50 degree bevel on my LN bevel up plane. Tried it today. It worked very well.

By: Gregg Counts

Gregg Counts — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:24:08 +0000

Thanks. I will give that 50 degree bevel a try. Planing is so much more pleasant than sanding.

By: Chris Schwarz

Chris Schwarz — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:22:27 +0000

Gregg,

With your bevel-up tool, sharpen the iron with a 50° bevel. Tighten the mouth up as tight as you can get it. Take a thin shaving.

That should help.

Another option: Get a toothed iron for your bevel-up tool. Remove the tearing with that. Then use the high-angle iron to finish it up.

If all that fails. Sand.

Chris

By: Gregg Counts

Gregg Counts — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:03:25 +0000

I am having similar problems with curly maple that I am using to build a shaker stool. I’ve tried my LN 50 degree 4 1/2 and my LN no 5 bevel up but still get tear out. Looks like I’ll have to pull out the sander.

By: dave brown

dave brown — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:10:08 +0000

The top on our dining table is a big butcher block countertop from IKEA. It’s oak and the grain runs every which direction. I use two no80 cabinet scrapers to clean it up once or so a year — we have kids and run a daycare. I tried a smoother once. It didn’t work out too well. . . .