On 2017-06-01 6:31 PM, Cliff wrote:
>
> I gotta say,  pushing  4.25" of steel  plane blade across anything  
> sounds like  work. 
Too much work. Been there etc.

With chisels, it makes sense to get a flat back because the back of the 
chisel helps guide the edge. it's the only help you get with a chisel, 
unless you use a jig of some sort. Think workmanship of risk. But with a 
plane blade, the edge is guided by the bottom of the plane; it just 
needs to be sharp and stay that way. The back bevel is your friend here, 
because it saves you work AND steel, and the blade stays sharp longer, 
so you get more done between sharpening sessions. As well, every micron 
you take off the back reduces the mass of the blade, reduces its 
stiffness, and thins the precious steel: that can't be good.

FWIW
Don

-- 
The harder they come, the bigger they fall - Ry Cooder