On 15/09/16 13:30, ss wrote:
Never used this wooden plane (had it 40 years) but have decided to tidy
it up and start using it.
The plane is 14 inches long. Should it be bevel up or down?

Wonderful! A wooden plane is a joy to use. I have a few which I used
when I worked in old buildings and a couple which were my grandfather's.

All planes are bevel down except for some very specialist applications.
At the business end (the cutting edge) the wood neither knows nor cares
which is which. But you can get a very low angle with bevel up for
certain specific purposes, like end grain or mahogany.

For sharpening - the men who used these tools didn't necessarily use a
text book with a stated angle. You grind the whole blade back so that
you can sharpen the edge 10 times before you have to grind the blade
back again. The sharpness is more important than the angle, and again
the angle might depend on what you are doing with it.

Only a fool in a hurry sharpens the flat side. But you wouldn't be the
first one. I keep mine flat and polished at the cutting edge. there is
no point fine sharpening one side if the other is all rough.

I have used and seen used for sharpening all combinations of stones,
wheels, abrasive papers, strops, diamond slips, belt sanders, boot
soles, scrap wood etc etc.and for cooling and lubricating 3in1, wd40,
spit, water, brylcream, diesel, Fairy Liquid, whatever works, the only
thing you must not do is overheat and blue the cutting edge when using a
wheel. I really like the cheap diamond plastic 'whetstones' you get
anywhere or from toolstation, and just water.

For most purposes you will want the cutting edge to be straight, but a
block plane with a convex cutting edge for finishing faces, so that
there is no corner ever to mark the surface is a useful tool.

I could go on, but I have gone on too long already.

Good Luck!
TW