What are Toothed Blades used for?
There are actually two kinds of Toothed irons. The Scraper irons have a ‘V’-shaped tooth, the Bench and Block plane irons have a series of small square teeth. In the Scraper they are used to rough up a surface, either as a prep for veneering, and left as is; or to work down an area of difficult grain, after which the regular Scraper blade is used. In Bench and Block planes, they are used to work areas of difficult grain, by planing diagonally across from one direction, then diagonally from the other direction. After which, the regular Smoothing blade is used. The Toothed blades reduce tearout, and the regular blade can usually finish the job (or you would switch to the Scraper). Both types leave a rough surface. It’s been our experience that Bench and Block plane Toothed irons are relatively uncommon, but are favored by instrument makers. Toothed blades for Scrapers are better known. Both types are sharpened with a bevel just like any plane iron just don’t hone the top face of the ‘V’-
