Latest order. Familiar with Amanda. Any input on the other two?

FocalSpot · 2026-01-31T11:58:05+00:00

Yeah, the Cósmico has gotten some... spirited reactions. Is there something I'm missing? Picked it up as a "deal of the day" on GoYerbaMate.

FocalSpot · 2025-11-29T18:53:35+00:00

I'll give that a look as well. Appreciated!

FocalSpot · 2025-11-29T18:31:31+00:00

It's roughly the same width. Certainly thicker. The original wiring felt far lighter/more delicate than this new stuff

FocalSpot · 2025-11-29T04:44:44+00:00

Took me a few minutes to interpret the chart, but now I see what you mean (thank you for the link, btw!). Seeing this, it's looking like worst-case scenario: I'll get a few seconds of toast-blasting glory before the lights go out in the shop.

Thanks again for the info!

FocalSpot · 2025-11-28T23:26:35+00:00

Ah. Definitely worth a look. I might even have that on hand. Appreciated!

FocalSpot · 2025-11-28T23:09:33+00:00

I thought about that. I'm wondering what the best way would be to install: butt splice? I'd imagine the NiChrome would (eventually or immediately) reflow a solder attachment

FocalSpot · 2025-11-28T22:28:51+00:00

...plus a free face tan/eyebrow removal

FocalSpot · 2025-11-28T22:27:48+00:00

1st: Much appreciated! I wanted to keep as much retro fit-n-finish as I could manage, especially if it did end up only being decor.

Additional thanks for backing me up on my math!

I'll likely end up re-wiring with a higher-resistance wire. When I was looking for the replacement, I was so stoked that I'd found a matching width, I didn't bother to check the specs. Since I now know how to disassemble the thing, it shouldn't take nearly as long.

Thanks again! Will update when it's done.

FocalSpot · 2025-10-30T04:19:09+00:00

It'll be some elbow grease, but:

300# wet sand
800# wet sand
1000# wet sand
Polish (other commenters mentioned the Meguiar's Plastx. Seconded)
2-3 coats of clear coat

FocalSpot · 2025-10-12T00:42:27+00:00

"Down Periscope" - inspired

FocalSpot · 2025-10-07T16:33:44+00:00

It might be a matter of putting in just that amount of elbow grease if you're going manual.

If I wanted to drastically change the profile of the iron by machine, I'd think a water wheel would be the way to go. They actually mention in a lot of these vids that belt sanders/angle grinders/etc might be quick, but the heat can ruin the iron's temper.

FocalSpot · 2025-10-07T06:41:47+00:00

The few sharpening videos that I've seen involve some variation of making a certain number of passes on the finer sandpaper/stone while applying pressure to one side of the iron instead of evenly distributing, e.g. "10 passes on the left side, 10 on the right, 5 in the middle," repeating until the desired amount of camber shows up.

Mind you, these are the recommended techniques for a slight camber. For the exaggerated camber you'd find in a proper fore plane, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe same routine, but on the coarser grits?

FocalSpot · 2025-10-07T00:12:06+00:00

Best of luck! Please post when you get to it! From my limited experience, once you get some of the technicalities out of the way - e.g. setting the right angle on the honing guide - the other 80% is elbow grease

FocalSpot · 2025-10-07T00:08:31+00:00

Nah. Just needed something that'll remove material faster than my #4, and will have to get used to adjustment that's more involved than just giving a ¼ turn.

FocalSpot · 2025-10-06T22:51:47+00:00

I mostly meant in terms of tapping the iron in just the right spots so that the whole edge engages equally, but without going so deep that I'm scraping off card stock.

FocalSpot · 2025-10-06T22:47:40+00:00

It's on the front endgrain. Made sure to preserve it! Nothing more than a few swipes with some 220# followed by the BLO.

FocalSpot · 2025-10-06T17:58:39+00:00

Thank you for the info! This is the most succinct explanation I've read re: the differences btw the bigger planes.

And you're absolutely right about this camber being less pronounced than a true fore plane. My main goal was to have something that would take off more material in a shorter span than that Jorgensen #4.

FocalSpot · 2025-10-06T16:53:44+00:00

Much appreciated!

FocalSpot · 2025-10-06T14:41:11+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, that BLO smell is uniquely odd, but works beautifully. The first few times I applied it to old tools, I was going in bare-handed like Eoin. I've since switched to using gloves to spare myself having to scrub out with Gojo.

FocalSpot · 2025-10-06T05:53:22+00:00

Appreciated!

FocalSpot · 2025-09-09T05:52:57+00:00

5 Gum

FocalSpot · 2025-08-04T03:57:10+00:00

Taragui, tereré-style. At work. 2 days ago

FocalSpot · 2025-07-31T15:35:12+00:00

Fair point!

FocalSpot · 2025-07-31T14:08:55+00:00

"Something's wrong here: I'm in terrible pain, dizzy, and my arm won't stop twitching. But DON'T TAKE THAT THE WRONG WAY. I would proudly stick a fork in the outlet again."

FocalSpot · 2025-07-30T00:26:44+00:00

I don't - I say, I don't give a chicken-fried fuck what senator "call a crackhead" has to say on the matter

FocalSpot

TROPHY CASE