Since I’m trying to make these tests as objective as possible, I’d like to describe my methods in enough detail to allow others to check my results. Below are brief comments with links to more complete descriptions.

The Blades Being Tested

I’m testing several A2 blades by current makers, carbon steel blades both old and new, and a couple of blades made from more exotic steels not commonly used for plane blades.

Sharpening

After experimenting with different honing abrasives and testing the sharpness of the edges they produce, I am now using ¼ micron diamond paste to hone all of the blades. The bevel angle is precisely controlled by use of a honing jig, and a small back bevel is used to make sure the cutting edge is formed by the intersection of two finely honed surfaces.

Planing

Infill planes are used for all of the planing, even for the blades designed for Bailey-style planes.

The Microscope

For a $30 toy, this microscope is surprisingly useful. I’ve made some modifications that allow me to get more consistent images.

Testing Sharpness

This testing produces numbers that allow comparison of the results of blade tests done at different times.

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