5
Adjusting the Shaving Thickness
The blade can be adjusted to cut more aggressively
to produce larger shavings. Repeat the above
procedure, but swivel the blade away from the
body shoulder, rotating it about the right-hand
front corner, which is to remain in contact with the
plug gauge.
Note:
The plug gauge will develop small scratches
as it is repeatedly rotated against the blade prior
to removal. It has been made of soft brass so that
it does not nick the corner of the blade. It has also
been made long enough so that you may place it
in the tenon cutter at varying depths to fi nd an
unblemished area.
While adjusting the blade, never allow the blade to override the plug. Doing so will cause deep
scratches in the gauge as it is rotated prior to removal, and likely result in undersized tenons.
Tenon Length
A tenon cut to full depth will be 1
"
long with the
1
/
4
"
,
5
/
16
"
and
3
/
8
"
dia. tenon cutters, and 1
3
/
8
"
long with the
7
/
16
"
,
1
/
2
"
and
9
/
16
"
dia. tenon cutters. To cut shorter tenons, just stop cutting
before bottoming out.
Sharpening
You can hold the small blade for sharpening by making a blade holder from
1
/
2
"
square stock,
4
"
to 6
"
long. Using a bandsaw or other thin blade, cut a center groove at least
3
/
4
"
deep in one
end. Drill a
3
/
16
"
dia. hole perpendicular to the groove,
3
/
16
"
from the end, and just deep enough
to reach the groove. Countersink to accommodate a #10 ×
1
/
2
"
fl at-head wood screw. Chamfer
the front portion of the non-drilled section below the slit at approximately 30°.
Insert the blade in the slot (bevel facing the
chamfered section). Secure it in place with
the #10 ×
1
/
2
"
fl at-head wood screw. Coat the
entire length of the bevel with an indelible
marker. Clamp the blade holder in a honing
guide at a 30° angle, and progressively
hone the blade to 4000x. Observe where
the marker coating has worn off. Continue
sharpening until the full width of the blade
is clear of marker coating (and at least
1
/
32
"
wide). Check to ensure that the bevel remains
square to the side edge of the blade.
Body
Shoulder
Swivel about
front corner
of blade.
Figure 2: Adjusting shaving
thickness.
Figure 3: Shop-made blade holder.
3
/
4
"
3
/
16
"
30°
1
/
2
"
×
1
/
2
"
stock,
4
"
to 6
"
long.
