1/2-Inch Bronze Shoulder Plane  Ref: L-N 0.5
	1/2-Inch Shoulder Plane The Lie-Nielsen Bronze Shoulder Plane is based on a traditional wood-filled English shoulder plane, such as the Spiers or Norris. These were made in a number of sizes, the 1/2" being rather smaller than usual, but very handy. This plane is particularly useful as a trimming tool, to fit shoulders, rabbets and dadoes. Therefore, these planes typically had very fine mouths. Ours is made to take a maximum shaving of .005". Each tool is tested before leaving the shop. If this mouth opening is too small for your work, lightly file a 45° bevel on the corner of the bronze casting immediately ahead of the blade bevel, allowing a larger chip to clear, until the shaving size suits. Geometry: The blade sits in the body at 15°. It comes with at 25° flat ground bevel , making the included cutting angle 40°. Blade Sharpening: The blade comes ready to use. Slight additional honing will increase performance. We often recommend a secondary bevel of 1° or 2°. This is most easily accomplished with a good honing guide. It will improve performance especially in hard woods. Further modifications of the bevel angles can be made to suit your style and the work. Blade Adjustment: Tapping the heel of the plane with a wooden mallet or a block of wood will usually loosen the wedge. Set the blade depth and tap the wedge home snugly - but not too tight. The wedge has a tendency to drive the blade a little deeper. With practice, you will soon be able to set the blade quickly and accurately. Materials: We use Manganese Bronze for the bodies. These castings are fully stress-relieved, a process that removes inherent stresses and ensures that the tool will remain flat and true. The body is filled with Indonesian Rosewood. The blade is A-2 Tool Steel hardened to Rockwell 60-62 cryogenically treated and double tempered. Our heat treating technique ensures that the blade will take and hold a very fine edge. After heat treating, the blade is fully surface ground on the top, back, and cutting edge, giving a smooth, flat surface that will take a mirror finish very quickly. Maintenance: The sole is lapped to .0015". Occasional hand lapping with fine wet/dry sandpaper (320 grit or higher) on a flat surface like a glass plate will help remove dings and keep it true. Occasionally wax the wood parts - but not the bottom of the blade wedge. If you wish, polish the bronze parts with any good brass polish - we use Never Dull or Brasso - or enjoy the patina that develops with age and use. Guarantee: Materials and workmanship are guaranteed for the life of your tool. Call for repairs or replacement parts. We are available for advice if you ever have a problem using your tool.