Originally Posted by
jfk742
Is your sole flat?
I always check the piece I’m trying to flatten with a straight edge, the edge of the sole can be used as well. For a concave piece start with concentrating your planing on the high spot, then work you way towards the low edges. An easy way to keep track is to just scribble with a pencil so it’s easy to see where you’re taking material, really similar to lapping a hone. Don’t be afraid to go 45* or even more to the grain. Do an X pattern going one direction across the piece then 90* to that on the way back, then finally with the grain again. That technique really helps with twists too.
On another note, I picked up a shapton 16k and honed a plane iron on it, used Cosman’s technique setting a bevel with a 1k dmt then straight to the shapton, my initial opinion is that it works, went about 2* higher angle than the bevel set. I didn’t back bevel with the dmt, only the 16k. I’ll experiment some more and post back if you’re interested. If this works well I can conceivably cut honing time down by 3x’s from what I’m currently doing.