: Have you tried holding your block plane at an angle?

Sooo.... I am an idiot. It turns out that the piece I was shaping as cut from the log and the spot I was working used to be a huge knot. I missed this because of the small piece I was working. When I moved on to the second piece I was able to put the taper into it easily. My cheap plane seams to have held its edge just fine. I try to always use the plane at an angle as I find it cuts across the whole blade and is easier to control for me anyway. I call it my moose skinning technique.

I have requested a new plane, spokeshave, and sharpening kit from lee valley for christmas but I am not aloud to buy tools for myself this close to that time of year or else my wife has no ideas for gifts. I tell her there is always another tool needed and I can make her a list whenever she wants, but all I get is HA ha very funny!

Thank you all for your advice once again.

dave g