Hello there...
I am new to this Internet business, so pardon the absence of proper
spelling inasmuch as the MOSAIC package I am using doens't have a Spell Checker.
I stumbled across this listserv by invitation from Gary Roberts, an old
acquaninatce from CompuServe and the Family Handyman and Handcrafts Woodworking
forums. But first, a few words about myself...
I'm 35, single, live at home in central NJ with my Pop and have my shop
in his basement. By day, I am a practicing intellectural property (patent and
trademark) lawyer and part owner of a local hardware store. By night and on the
weekends (when I'm not working), I enjoy working in my basement shop.
Presently I am interested in "making room" in the basement and arranging the
shop to suit some type of larger work on some furniture. I have to build some
office type stuff (office in the house too), and finding out yesterday my
sister-in-law is pregnant and expecting in late Spetember; I have to build a
cradle.
The shop is equipped with the usual range of power tools. But I find
myself enjoying the look, feel and ease (no noise, excessive dust, etc.) of hand
tools, particularly old hand tools I pick up inexpesnively.
Frankly, it has become a "benign addiction" over the last two years.
Fortunately, about once a year (on avaerage) I make a big "score" of usable hand
tools. For instance, last year at this time a loacl boat builder was retiring
and sold all of his planes at a yard sale. I bought eleven planes in servicable
condition for <$65.00; including, compass plane, No. 3, 4, & 7 bench planes, No.
90 (nickel plated) rabbet plane, several block planes and a few "rabbet
(fillister) planes". Some recent scores also include a bunch (11) of wooden
(coffin) block planes for $60.00, a VICTOR No. 4 (in cherry shape) for $5.00, a
STANLEY No. 6 in original packaging for $25.00; and so on.
In buying tools, I tend to be a user rather than a collector. So I buy
based upon "user condition" rather than collector grading; choosing to bypass
the "shelf" planes (and other tools) in favor of those that can be
"rehabilitated". Put another way, the price I am willing to pay is inversely
proportional to how much time I'm willing to spend working on the thing to get
it in usable shape. Hey..any "old" plane for $1.00 (and I've bought 'em that
cheap) is a bargain; even with 10 hours of work to flatten and sharpen the iron,
"adjust" the chip breaker, flatten the sole, file the lever cap and give the
thing a "dusting off".
Before participating I've monitored the messages here and have been
quite impressed with the nature of the discussion and how the group treats
newcomers. I look forward to participating in dicsuissions with all of you and
acquiring more overall knowldge about "old tools" in the process.
With all of that said, I have three specific questions for general
discussion and comment. Since the 'Net doesn't "thread" messages like
CompuServe, anyone responding might want to post the reply as a new message and
we can all follow the "substantive" discussion.
First: I have several wooden planes (block, bench and transational) and would
like to know how to repair (close up the openings in the throat) them. Any
comments, advice or instruction would be helpful, and I would apprciate a
reference source. I have Dunbar's book on Restoring ...WW Tools, and do not
find his instructions helpful. My hesitation is I don't want to destroy a plane
which I am attemopting to repair by screwing up, although I do have a few
"sacraficial lambs" to make an attempt before moving on to the treasured pieces.
Secondly: I have a STANLEY No. 71 1/2 Router planbe I bought for $5.00 at
a yard sale. It onl has a 1/2" cutter, and that's it. I'd be interested in
obtaining the full cutter set and allied "fence parts". But I need t know what
the devil they are first! Again, any help here is sincerely appreciated.
Thirdly: WRT cleaning metal planes, I've had good luck with multiple
swabs of VM&P (Varnish Makers & Painter's) Naptha until the cloth comes away
"clean". Never had any problem with this solvent dissolving the "Japanning",
and it's an aggressive yet sufficiently gentle solvent to "clean" "gunked"
planes.
Sorry if the appearence of this message is "formal". But hey, after all
I do WRITE for a living, and I guess your writing style is just what you manage
to become accustomed to. Don't be put off by the tone. Gary Roberts will tell
you I'm an "approachable" guy who likes to talk; especially about tools and
woodworking !
Looking forward to your replies...
Matt Prusik
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