I agree with Leon, I'm happy with how the plane looks. In fact I love
the way the plane looks (especially the inlay -- that's sweet!). I
took it to work (with some fluffy shavings for proof of how awesome
this thing is) and all the guys who are into woodworking were just
ooing and ahing all over the place (hopefully there's a few new
customers in there somewhere

Anyway, in response to your question on whether or not more people
have problems with their right hand getting cramped after using the
smoother for awhile, I wouldn't doubt that it could be as simple as my
technique. I'm a novice at this for sure and I remember watching a
Frank Klausz video where he demonstrated planing and he didn't lift
the plane off the wood, instead he tipped it at an angle and slid it
backwards. Said it was faster that way. I don't doubt it since not
only are you not lifting it, you're also staying more aligned for the
next pass. The reason I don't do this is because I don't have my
bench with bench dogs finished yet so I prop my wood against a thinner
piece of stock (that's clamped to my temp bench) and plane that way --
if I were to slide the plane backwards it would just pull the wood
with it. So, yeah, probably my technique. Give me 6mos (or more
and I'll let you know what it's like when I have a real workbench.

Thanks!
Mike


Steve Knight wrote in message . ..
I know my finish is not perfect it is getting better. but so far I have not
found a practical way to make the wedge and mouthblock look nice.
the irons drive me nuts to make. I get pretty worn out after grinding a hundred
or so. so I don't work hard enough grinding corners. I need to hire a monkey to
do it I can afford the bananas (G)