What is the best wood to use in the plane body?
All timbers used for the plane body are very suitable for this purpose and will provide good serviceability and long life. It really comes down to your budget and personal preference based on the look of the wood. However, here are some points to consider: Cooktown Ironwood has more of a natural oily feel to it than other timbers. Its texture is not quite as fine as the acacias or ebony and is generally is not as beautiful. Acacias ( Gidgee, mulga and Desert Rosewood) have a very fine texture and are generally very beautiful. Macassar Ebony has a romance because of its beauty, but generally it is not quite as dense as Ironwood or the acacias. Will the sole of the wooden planes wear? A. Yes, the sole of any plane be it wood or metal will wear because of the friction created when planing wood. However, the hard dense timbers used in the sole will wear very little over the life of the tool. Wood on wood has very little friction hence wear is minimal. Which blade should I choose, High Spee
