Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | Aug 24, 2002 05:18am | #1

   Have any of the proponents and opponents of re-japanning claimed it will affect the function of the plane? If not, I think it falls in the same category as the recent thread on homemade glue. It would be interesting to know how to do it, but spray enamel would be a lot easier. If any of them have claimed it will affect the function, I think they're lying, but I'd be willing to examine the results of a well designed double blind study.

2. 
   lwilliams | Aug 24, 2002 06:24am | #2

   It's pretty unlikely you'll find any Stanley plane that wasn't mass produced and there are hundreds or thousands of similar planes. If you're looking for planes to use, those that are the most useful are also generally the most common. I doubt you'll be risking much value or history by treating any Stanley plane the way you want to. They'll be your planes and your property--ownership gives you the right to do what you want.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/24/2002 9:05:05 AM ET by Larry Williams

3. 
   nhlett | Aug 24, 2002 01:49pm | #3

   This is amazing! In the last week it occured to me that I had not seen a discussion on restoring the japaning on planes and here it is. ESP is a wonderful thing :-)

   Can you amplify on the pros and cons you have read? It seems to me that the areas that contact the wood are never Japaned so I have trouble imagining how performance could be impacted. 

   I will be away for a couple of days, but I look forward to your response.

   Peter

1. 
   ekarnes | Aug 24, 2002 07:00pm | #4

   i can't imagine performance of the plane is the issue, since no working surfaces are japanned. i have just heard warnings against touching the original japanning because it detracts from the value of the plane-obviously this is not an issue to anyone but a collector. but the feasability and durability of the re-japanned surface would be of concern to me (i.e. can it be done correctly with a regular kitchen oven? and will it hold up as well as the original?). i personally don't see anything wrong with re-japanning bailey planes–that it detracts from the "value" sounds dubious to me. it seems to me that any use would detract from the financial value of the plane, but not using a plane strips all true value-it's a tool and its beauty lies greatly in its use. -eric

4. 
   eddiefromaustralia | Aug 25, 2002 12:38pm | #5

   Hi Eric,

   Surprised that someone hasn't mentioned Mike's site - a regular contributor.

   Re-japanning and restoring planes is his bread & butter.

   http://pages.sbcglobal.net/mike_in_katy/PlaneWood/Default.htm

   Personally I wouldn't have any problem re-japanning, but I put up this site for you to make your own mind up. After all, as someone said, it's your plane.

   Cheers, eddie

5. 
   PlaneWood | Aug 26, 2002 03:47am | #6

   A plane will not work at all unless you re-japan it with the original type coating.   Everyone should re-japan every plane they have immediately!  :)

   OK, so much for crass advertising!  I've japanned lots of planes and I can see no reason why it would affect the performance one way or the other.  It's the 'zen' of the thing.  I will say that the original stuff makes an almost indestructable coating.  Collectors do want the original. 

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
   PlaneWood