The ‘Hard Reset’ for Handplanes

My No. 3 was in rough shape this week.

There are times when I cannot figure out why a handplane is leaving nasty tracks on my boards. The iron isn’t chipped (as least as far as I can see). And the sole doesn’t have any scars or burrs (that I can feel). Even after I hone and polish the blade, the tracks persist.

I could fiddle-fart around with it, or I could hit the “hard reset” button. Though the hard reset seems like more work, it’s always faster than tinkering here and there with the tool.