I read in an old tool book that one way of making your metal bench planes work smoothly is to occasionally rub the sole on some felt rolled up (edge facing up), held in a small tin can. The felt has been soked in oil. The book didn’t say what kind of oil to use. If I use a petroleum-based oil, then the wood could be marked/stained in an undedsirable way. If the oil is linseed, then it seems that eventually the felt would harden and dry out, thus ending the useful life of the felt as a lubricant holder. Any old timers out there know what was the kind of oil normally used in this little plane aid? Thanks. billwig
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Replies
Try a few swipes with a candle before planing and every 20 minutes or so.
Lee
Thanks, Mapleman. Have you ever noticed the candle wax interferring with the appearance of the finish you applied later? billwig
Hi Bill,
I've never noticed a problem. I got the tip from Rob Cosman, who is the Canadian distributor for Lie Nielsen tools. He has a number of dovetailing/hand tool videos and that's what he does. Sort of like drawing an elongated letter "S" on the plane sole with a small piece of wax. It doesn't seem to take much wax to help out.
Cheers,
Lee
Camellia oil (you can get it at any place that sells Japanese woodworking tools) is non-drying and supposedly will not interfere with finishes, although I'd be a bit concerned if I was going to apply a water-based finish afterwards.
Some people use paraffin instead; it's a little less messy than oil. I occasionally spray my plane bodies with TopCote and then wipe off as much as I can; it's more or less equivalent to paraffin.
-Steve
Thanks, sas. I'll try it. billwig
Bill,
The secret to a really fast hand plane is not candle wax, but rather bacon drippings. Just keep a tin can by the stove and put the bacon drippings in it. Never throw that stuff away. Too valuable. Then take your palm and dip it in the can and rub the sole of the plane. BUT FIRST MAKE SURE THAT THE BLADE HAS BEEN RAISED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE SOLE. Note that is a very important step, especially if you use a circular motion with your palm on the sole.
The only problem that I have faced in using this technique is when the dogs get in to the workshop. They run for the hand planes and lick em and slobber all over them. So if you are going to use bacon drippings on your hand plane soles, keep the dogs out of the shop and keep the blade above the sole.
If you have any other questions, just send them to me in an envelope along with a lot of small bills. You can trust me. You should worry about the other guys. :-)
Happy New Year,
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
You failed to mention that when greasing hand planes with bacon drippings only Smithfield cured bacon can be used. As a Virginian, I thought you would have known better....(:)>
Best to you for a great New Year!
-Jerry
Having been Kentucky born and bred, I can't consider Va ham drippings. Also, with the price of meat these days, I've been moving closer to vegetarian practice--so maybe I'll use coconut oil. Do dogs lick coconut oil? Not to worry---no dogs are allowed in my shed.
cheers billwig
Billwig,
No dogs?
Houston, we have a problem.
On the serious side, I have never actually lubricated the soles of my planes. I do, however, keep a heavy rag handy that has been occasionally sprayed lightly with WD40. I usually wipe hand tools down with this rag followed by a few swipes with a clean one. I'll have to experiment with wax, Topcoat, etc. and see if it improves the performance of the plane. Probably will continue to wipe down tools, however. You know, old dogs, new tricks....(:)>
-Jerry
PS: You asked whether dogs lick coconut oil. Answer: no, not in Virginia....
I'll have to experiment with wax, Topcoat, etc. and see if it improves the performance of the plane.
I used Topcoat on a #7 when flattening the top of my workbench. The difference was night and day. I almost went right over top of the bench! That said, I haven't been brave enough to acutally use it on any of my more expensive planes.
I've seen Rob Cosman use his little wax cube and it seems to work.
Jerry,
You are absolutely right. Nothing like Smithfield cured bacon. But Billwig is a Kentuckyian vegetarian. I think that vegetable oils will work too. After all, the Japanese use that Camellia oil. Is Japan near Kentucky?
Happy New Year.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Having grown up just across the river from Kentucky, I was taught that a Kentucky vegetarian was addicted only to things derived from corn. While that stuff is great for lubricating friendships, conversations and stiff joints, I don't think it would have much use on a woodworking plane.
Mel, See my reply to nazard. sorry, I'm fresh out of small bills, but the cheque's in the mail. trust me. billwig
Billwig,
If you are from Kentucky, then there is no charge for my advice. I am sure that vegetable oil will work. Have fun and Happy New Year. I am looking forward to trading good woodworking info with you next year too.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
bill,
If you're from Kentucky aren't you supposed to use the fat from a wild boar!? Of course it must be shot with a Kentucky Long Rifle first.
If all else fails, try rubbing your soles with crumpled up wax paper.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,
"If all else fails, try rubbing your soles with crumpled up wax paper."
I tried that, but then my feet kept slipping out of my socks.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
We are always chewing the fat here, how about a little bit of that?
wax paper...will try. cheers.
I picked up a hunk of bee's wax from a guy at the farmer's market and keep it in my apron. Works nicely. I have also made something like you describe using an old piece of terry towel stuffed into a hole in a block of wood and lubricated from time-to-time with camillia oil.
My old timer, my Grand Dad said use Paste wax, what took me a what to find out was he was talking about furniture paste wax. It has just enough of the right kind of oil and it works on everything including table saws.
Yes it does! And that's what I use, too. Works great.
My first mistake was I tried car polish; no oil then i went back to the source and found out my mistake.
I use camellia oil and it works great.
A little linseed oil on the sole of the plane goes a long way too and does not stain the wood.
You can make an oil wick from a piece of 4"x4"x4" timber. Bore a hole in the top of, say, 13/4" diameter, about an inch deep. Roll up some soft felt like material like a swiss roll and insert this into the hole, leaving about 1/2" an inch showing above the top of the wick. Pour on some linseed oil and let that soak in, topping up untill the felt stays moist to the touch.
When using your plane on the bench position the wick in a convenient position and simply draw the sole of your plane over it every once in a while.
For appearance sake you can bevel the four sides of the wick.
I use Boeshield religiously. Spray on and wipe off. I use it regularly (daily or weekly) on all the metal working surfaces in my shop. It also prevents rust. I also use Waxilit when I want a little extra slickness.Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Roll up some soft felt like material like a swiss roll and insert this into the hole, leaving about 1/2" an inch showing above the top of the wick. Pour on some linseed oil and let that soak in, topping up untill the felt stays moist to the touch.
If you do this be sure to use linseed oil. Do not use boiled linseed oil or you may burn your shop down. The same goes for any rags you've used to apply BLO - don't leave them crumpled up in a pile.
-Chuck
I don't think it's a good idea to use any kind of drying oil at all. It will eventually get rather sticky and gooey. That's the advantage of camellia oil, mineral oil, etc.--they don't dry out.
-Steve
Japanwoodworker also markets an applicator that can be used with any liquid lubricant, which amounts to a container for the oil, a felt type applicator surface, and a screw cap. I usually keep this next to my planes and chisels, loaded up with camellia oil. I've been using this for about 10 years, with success. The only problem with camellia oil is that you do need to re-apply the lubircant every three months or so.
Woodcraft used to sell little cakes of beeswax next to the register, sort of an impulse buy item. Maybe they still do.
It works great! A scribble every now and then, a little dab'l do you.
Trouble is they don't last-you'll be buying them right and left, at least one a decade.
David C.
"Trouble is they don't last..."
Boy, the world really is going to hell in a handbasket--you can't even count on bees to make stuff the way they used to. Those little blocks of beeswax don't say "Made in China" on the back, do they?
-Steve
No, they don't. It is only the he-man western type of bee that can make the square cakes, the foreign bees are still making the little pellets. Imagine the pain! :>).
drycote the same stuff used on table saw tops
I personally started by using paraffin. It generally worked fine. After a while I transitioned to Topcote... just a light spray and then a wipe with a cloth. This worked equally well. But, I've always been a bit concerned that the wax or chemicals would weaken the finish bond to the wood.
Recently, I've been using camellia oil. I have a rag around to wipe the planes after use and I just lay the folded cloth near where I'm working. Just set the plane on the cloth occasionally and it stays well lubricated. I've followed the plane work (after light scraping) with some water-based Lockwood dye with no problems. I've also found that it's handy to rub the cloth on a burnishing rod for burring a scraper and I plan to try lubricating chisels using this method as well.
Johnsons paste wax, same as machine surfaces works for me.
I have used a piece of wax paper and just rubbed the sole on that and it works well.
Try a lump of solidified paraffin wax. Although made from petroleum products I have never found it interfears with a finish.
If you're looking for beeswax, check a vegetarian store, they frequently stock it.
The local one here has half-pound blocks of it for about $2.50.
Alternatively, contact your local extension service and ask for a list of beekeepers in the area, they'll usually sell it for a reasonable price, although you may have to melt it down and run it through cheesecloth if you object to bee parts in your wax.
If you decide to melt it down, use a double boiler. Direct flame is a bad idea.
All,
Well, it's not as romantic as melting and straining your own beeswax, nor as exotic as a purpose built container filled with rolled felt for your camellia oil (where should you keep your camellia oil container- can you say feng shui?), but what I have found effective is a common old candlestub. Rub it on your plane soles, planer and jointer beds, shaper and router fences, and even the odd drawer or two before they leave the shop. Y'all do build stuff, like drawers, once in a while, when you aren't melting, & straining your vegetarian beeswax, or rolling or soaking felt with imported oriental oil, right?
Gaw-- if "camellia oil" didn't sound so prissy. Can't y'all use bear grease and scrub it on with a badger hair brush?? THAT YA KILT YERSELF!! Skin em out an tan th' hides. Read Foxfire, vols I and II, maybe III
Ray ,
in flame resistant suit, awaiting being boiled in beeswax and camellia oil; but, in a double boiler, and in organically grown, free range camellia juice
Ray, I had you figured for:
View Image
Maybe you could put a little on the candle stub??
Edited 1/4/2008 7:44 pm ET by Samson
Sam,
Q: What did the new groom buy two jars of petroleum jelly for?
A: $1.95 each
Ray
Samson,
Would you happen to have $39.95? I just spit a mouthful of coffee all over my keyboard! Fortunately the mouse ducked in time.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Best post ever. Thank you, you just made 2008.
Cheapest source of beeswax is a toilet ring. A couple of bucks at the BORG. One of these will last for years!
Dick
I didn't know making a plane sole slicker was such a complicated and involved process requiring a Master's Degree in something like Extreme Underwater Ironing.
I feel completely inadequate now knowing that that bit of old wax candle (10 pence a pop or something) I keep in my pinny pocket and quickly smear across the plane sole every now and then just hasn't been doing a good enough job for the last thirty odd years.
Hanging my head in shame as I search for the latest academic peer reviewed research papers on plane sole lubrication written by Oxbridge boffins, et al. Anyone got any pointers? What should I look for? Perhaps titles along the following lines might help? "Slicker'n a Bird Flu Victim's Snot on a Round Brass Door Knob: the latest research on coefficients of friction between metal plane soles and quarter sawn English oak at 13.231% moisture content and how to relieve it."
I dunno guys and gals. This discussion all just seems a bit much. It's 9-30 am, and I think I need a drink,... already. Slainte.
Richard Jones Furniture
Edited 1/6/2008 4:36 am by SgianDubh
Richard,
You didn't know that selecting a lubricant for the soles of planes was such a difficult issue. I think you are correct. It is not. Candle wax works fine, although I prefer the white over the colored candles.The real problem is knowing how much pressure should be used in applying the candle wax to the sole. This is an issue which is similar to how much pressure should be applied to clamps when edge gluing boards. It would be best if the makers of clamps actually build in sensors to detect the amount of pressure being applied. How else can one be sure that one is not under-clamping or overclamping? I believe you might refer to this as "under-cramping or over-cramping". Similarly, the use of a candle with an appropriate sensor would make it easier to determine if the wax is being applied with the correct amount of pressure. I am sure that you agree with this if you are still reading this message, just as I am sure that if you are still reading this message, you need to re-look at how you are prioritizing your allocation of time to various tasks. :-)
Happy New Year.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Richard, Richard, Richard,
You really need to look into this Earth shaking new technology. It's not so much the actual source of applying a material to enhance the slipperyness of the sole. We're not necessarily talking about a plane here! It's distinctly possible that we could simply be waxing philosophical.
Also, the relative thickness of the applied wax can have a profound effect on the pursuit of the elusive gossamer thickness of the shavings! In addition one must take into account for the gradual wearing away of the wax in order to make adjustments to the blade.
To that end I am currently investigating a new frog design (read The Kidderville Frog) that will, through micron microscope technology, measure the thickness of the applied wax and automatically make blade adjustments so as to maintain shaving thickness to within .0000000000000000000000000000001 millimeters. I have chosen metric so as to pi$$ off all the Americans who swear by fractional measurements.
This will also appease the purient interests of the Jolly Biscuiteer, et al and therefore stir the continuing debate betwixt the followers of said measuring systems!
Now, I have more pressing issues to attend to, not the least of which is my search for a qualified patent lawyer. Would you suggest that I consult with OJ Simpson in this matter? Also, I desperately need to contact Sir Philip, Mr. Williams, Mr. Brese, Mr. Lee as my plans are to make this a standard device to force all these folks to adapt their planes to this new technology.
Now that I have provided you with insight into my new plane appliance can I get you to sign a Non Disclosure agreement? Remember, Mums the word!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,
What's Richard's Mum got to do with anything? She's known he's been nicking her candles out the holders for years now. But her boy can do no wrong, so she pretends not to notice when they come up missing. She looks askance when he shows up for Sunday's haggis brekkies wearing one of her starched pinnys tho. The woman's a saint.
I used to get my candlestubs off the altar at church. Church candles are the best of all-- guaranteed not to be evil, (tho they are always wicked).
Ray
Ray,
I used to get my candlestubs off the altar at church. Church candles are the best of all-- guaranteed not to be evil, (tho they are always wicked).
Gads, I think I just bit off the end of my tongue!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Oh dear, Bob. You and Ray are too slick for me, and if you need to talk to OJ I've heard he's in the nick somewhere, so he'll be easy enough to find. Could be wrong on that though.
I've been making a mistake. I neither nick candles from the altar; not a religious churchgoer type for one, but I'd happily nick the lead off their roof. Nor do I pinch my mummy's candles; she used those electric light bulb things and rubbing those on the bottom of my plane didn't seem to make them more slippery.
No, all this time I've been going to the hardware shop and buying candles. Incidentally, I've heard some folks swear by chrome polish for slickening up those plane soles-- I'm not joking, and I've never tried it myself. David Charlesworth told me about that trick a while back one night when I was down his way and we went out for a pint or three and a meal. His plane soles did seem pretty slick to me when I test drove a couple.
I'm sure he was appalled at my description of my sloppy arsed sharpening techniques, but he manfully avoided choking on his tongue. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture
I have THE SOLUTION!
Wheaties!
I did some radical research into the non slippery plane sole phenominumimnomnomnominominimium issue and have determined that all you wusses simply need to eat more Wheaties. Also, there has been a steady decline in the sale of these marvelous flakes so get on out to da sto and buy several boxes!
During the research there was also another discovery made. If you crush up some Wheaties and place them on an imported slice of Ebony, of the highest grade, your sole will be slickern a trout.
Don't be stealin yo mamas candles you cheapskates!
Hey Ruth, here's another poll for yall. Be sure to make Wheaties one of the choices, K?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Don't know if I would use the toilet ring: most brands are not pure beeswax and you could risk putting a nasty, greasy stain on the workpiece!
With that said, I use toilet rings for driving screws--keep an old shoe polish can filled with it and handy to wherever I'm working. When it gets low, I break off another piece of the sacrifitial toilet ring and melt it into the can.
I just finished watching my new DVD by Jim Kingshott on Bench Planes.
He uses a 5" piece of 4 x 4 with an inch hole near-through the center and a piece of rolled-up cloth stuffed in it to form a wick. He fills his with un-boiled linseed oil. Each time he changes planes he drags the sole of the selected plane over the wick.
I copied his idea this afternoon 4" piece of pine 2 x 4, an inch hole near through, and a piece of rolled up t-shirt. I filled mine from my new bottle of Camilla oil (sure looks like plain old mineral oil to me).
May I say that it's a slick way to lube the sole of a plane? Handy, fast, easy - probably the ultimate solution to a sticky problem (sorry, guys).
Mike D :)
Ray,
I think this might be a regional thang.
Folks on the top of the world melt down whale flubber for their woodworking tools. The eskimoes get a right nice income from their work.
We here in NH go out and shoot the fattest coon we can find and use the fat. We also make coonskin hats for the long winters. Theys best got in late fall when they're the fattest as we all have big heads that time of year???????? Ifn they aint no fat coons around, they's plenti o politicians! Hell the hot air alone is enuf ifn yo can git 'em to stay put long enuf.
'Sides, they ain't no romance in coon shootin and skinnin.
Now those folks further south use beeswax cause they can. It gits so cold up here most o da bees migrate south for 'em. Any of 'em that do stay around need all the wax thy kin git so we leave 'em lone.
Now as to them folks that live on the other end of the world, well, the Galoot Associated Society of Patrons (GASP) ain't got nothin on em yet.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 1/5/2008 8:35 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Bob,
I'm experimenting with using earwax for plane sole lubrication. The tryplane will just fit, if I lean my head over sideways. Fortunately, there isn't anything else inside there to get in the way, other than that low angle blockplane I dropped.
Raccoon grease, have to try that. Snake oil doesn't work, but I'll get rid of the gallon or so I made up. Somebody'll buy it...
Ray
Ray,
Be careful about that coon fat. I got an email from the SPCA regarding my post. They didn't have any problems up until I mentioned the romance thang.
Do you have any idea where those guys are from?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I thought flubber was used for tennis shoe soles and making model T's fly.------------------------------------
It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore
Don,
Those eskimoes are a very adaptable lot livin in them houses made out of icecubes. They don't know much about tennis shoes and the market dried up for sales to the model T owners up there.
One day an iceberg floated by the local carpenter whos uses planes to shave the icecubes for their houses. On top of the berg was a plane all slobbered in flubber, sliding all over the place. As his planes were sticking all the time he just had to know what was up with that plane.
Needless to say he discovered a new market and additional income for his customers. He saw a way to get his money from all his cube shaving! Now all he had to do is figure out a way to get all that fat off the cubes so's they wouldn't slide all over the place when building those icecube houses.
Stay tuned for part two........... No, he isn't going to burn it off!
Regards,
P.S. How's that for a quick response?
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Way quicker than I am this morning!
I spent the evening with a couple of friends, the stereo and a bottle of that shellac solvent/race car fuel Plymouth Gin.
Martini's so dry we didn't even show the glass the bottle of vermouth. One of my favorite British exports. I hear you were wrestling with the Captain last night.------------------------------------
It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore
Yup, and guess (hiccup) who won!?
The wife and I were celebrating a bit. Still don't know what we were celebrating though.
All I can tell you is that bottle o the Captain had a serious dent put in it! I think I saw a tear in his eye whilst he sat on the kitchen counter this morning..........
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I don't think anybody wrestles the Capt. and wins, you are doing very well to achieve a draw.------------------------------------
It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore
Don,
I get the biggest kick out of your byline, or whatever it's called. Cracks me up every time I see it.
Later Man,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
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