Search and rescue

[tjgreen]

Haven't had a lot of shop time for the last year - those of you who met me at the picnic saw me holding the two reasons why. So, been finding things I can do in small increments, most recently restoring and learning about hand planes. Figured I'd share a couple. Got these two awhile back at a garage sale:

On the right is a maroon Stanley 60 1/2, in pretty good shape. On the left was a very rusty Sargent VBM 408, which I'd never heard of at the time.

Here they are today, along with a Sargent 409 and a Bailey #4 I picked up later. Pretty happy with how they turned out. Plus, you can use them without waking a baby.

 

[Travis Porter]

Oh yes, I definitely need to come and visit. They look EXCELLENT!!! What did you use for the "japanning"/black color?

 

[tjgreen]

Oh yes, I definitely need to come and visit. They look EXCELLENT!!! What did you use for the "japanning"/black color?

Thanks Travis. You have more toys though, I'd rather visit your shop. I'll bring along my box of washing soda and battery charger .

I didn't use anything for the color except a light oiling, think that's partly the pic and partly the patina that's left from the electrolyte process - turns the metal grey/black.

 

[Trent Mason]

Nice scores Tim and you did a heck of a job cleaning them up. :thumbs_up:thumbs_up

 

[froglips]

Great job! Thanks for giving old iron a new lease on life!

Jim

 

[merrill77]

Plus, you can use them without waking a baby.

You must have a long line of hand-tool users in your family.

I, clearly, come from a family with power-tool heritage. My youngest (2 mos) sleeps best with noise. When he's cranky we set him next to the dishwasher and turn it on...he goes right to sleep. My two older boys sleep right through my planer, tablesaw and router. Thank <diety> for the small things in life!

:gar-Bi

 

[jhreed]

Beautiful restoration. And you took one man's junk and made another man's treasure. I am not of the "throw away" generation. I like to see things that last a lifetime. You have given these tools new life, and I have no doubt they will last at least another lifetime.
Also, I am so glad that they do not have the inscription "MADE IN CHINA"

James

 

[jhreed]

How about telling us your restoration process? I have a couple of old planes, but they look like the before pictures.
James

 

[tjgreen]

How about telling us your restoration process? I have a couple of old planes, but they look like the before pictures.
James

James, here's a much better description than I could give: http://www.majorpanic.com/handplane_restor1.htm

Couple notes beyond what's on his site:
I don't go as far as he does with repainting, polishing, and refinishing handles unless there's no alternative (paint overspray seems to be common on old planes).

Once it comes out of the electrolysis, I use a scotchbrite pad and rinse under running water to remove much of the black film that's left, along with a brass bristle brush for any loose paint or old sawdust/gunk. Then I pat it dry and stick it in a low oven for a couple minutes to get rid of any hard-to-reach water. Then oil it promptly, since it rusts faster than you can believe.

To de-rust nickel-plated lever caps, I don't use electrolysis since it can remove the nickel plating (DAMHIK). Instead I use evapo-rust from Auto-zone. Works great, same black film as electrolysis, but parts seem to resist rust better.

At that point the rest is cosmetic. If you want it looking old, you're done. If you want it shiny, you can sand any unpainted metal with 220-grit paper, followed by 400 and 0000 steel wool, and polish all the brass, and refinish the handles. I've been experimenting and find I like somewhere in between - somewhat shiny metal, clean but dull brass, and just rub the handles with 0000 steel wool. Your plane, your preference.

Once you're happy with the way it looks, you'll need to tune it, and I'm most definitely still learning on that score - bunch of websites out there on it though.

 

[crokett]

What do you oil it with? Just a household oil like 3-in-1?

 

[tjgreen]

What do you oil it with? Just a household oil like 3-in-1?

I use 3-in-1 since it's what I had. I think any light oil would work. The less smelly the better.