Replies

1. 
   highfigh | Jan 13, 2006 10:32pm | #1

   If there aren't any gouges that will scratch the wood, there shouldn't be a problem. 400 grit won't remove that much material unless you do it every week, over a number of years. You could use a green Scotch Brite pad, too. That will remove rust but not much good iron.

   As far as Lie-Nielsen planes and the reviewer saying they don't recommend any abrasives, L-N sells abrasive pads specifically for removing corrosion from their planes. It's shown on their website.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
2. 
   Bepperb | Jan 13, 2006 11:06pm | #2

   I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if any "scratches" are big enough to leave marks on the wood you are planing that will be a problem.  I guess at that point they'd be considered gouges. 

   I'm sure it's possible, but I doubt your planes will warp to the point where it will impact their performance if you take good care of them, or at least don't drop them onto a concrete floor.

   My advice would be to get in the habit of laying your planes on their side... not only will the bottoms not get scratched but your blades won't dull.  The only maintenance I do is to use some paste wax on them to keep them from rusting.  Ah, yes, and the sharpening.

   Lie Nielson planes are so amazing that when one is first created you can rub the bottom and a genie pops out and grants you one wish.  Every time this happens a factory worker wishes for another plane.  This is how they are made.  Unfortunately, once this magic is all used up they're just made of cast iron or brass like every other plane.  They could still warp, but I wouldn't bet on it, just like I wouldn't bet on any other quality plane to warp.

    

    

1. 
   philip | Jan 13, 2006 11:20pm | #4

   Bep, just an aside: soles made of gauage plate or stainless steel are warp proof. The process of cast iron manufacture means that cast iron may be vulnerable to warping -but it is only a remote possibility-there are other things more worrying about them.Philip Marcou

1. 
   Handrubbed | Jan 14, 2006 12:11am | #6

   Thanks for the feedback, everybody.  Maybe I'm being too finicky, but these friggin planes are expensive. 

1. 
   highfigh | Jan 14, 2006 02:35am | #7

   One thing about them being extremely true, if you use fine silicon carbide or emery cloth on an extremely flat surface, you won't really change anything. Just don't rush, keep the abrasive surface free of large grit and don't spend too much time on it. If the soles never see metal, they'll be polished, not scored or scratched. I asked the L-N demonstrator why he sets the plane on its sole when he puts it down on the bench and he said, "It's made to cut wood, right?" He also said that in most cases, he sets the toe or heel on something to raise it so the iron makes no contact with anything under it. I see his point. If it's not being set on metal and there's about .001" exposed, not much will happen to it.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

2. 
   philip | Jan 14, 2006 05:15am | #8

   You are being finicky-they are not expensive when you consider that the sale of your first decent project will recoup the cost of how many planes? Even hobbyists sell stuff now and again.:
   On the other hand, I posted a quote some time ago from D.Charlesworth about the relation between the weekly wages of today and the cost of a good plane as compared with the days of Norris , Spiers etc.:in this context they are becoming cheaper.Philip Marcou

1. 
   Handrubbed | Jan 14, 2006 08:06am | #9

   You are right Phillip, and now my income from my hobby just about covers my expense of acquiring some really good tools...which later will still be worth something if and when they are resold.   I'm going out tomorrow to buy that No. 7 that I have been wanting for a long time.  Can you explain all of this to my wife?

2. 
   lwj2 | Jan 16, 2006 01:53am | #10

   Sure, easy."He's been possessed by a plane dæmon. It can't be exorcised. Provide money to placate it.":)Leon

2. 
   Handrubbed | Jan 13, 2006 11:48pm | #5

   Funny!

3. 
   philip | Jan 13, 2006 11:14pm | #3

   It is definitely advisable to keep the soles scratch free-avoid nails and plonking them down onto other metallic objects on the bench (;).
   Seriously there is no danger of thinning by using 400 grit paper by hand.
   I use a green fine scotch brite wheel to keep things shiney without effort-it is on the belt grinder pictured, but these wheels can be fitted to buffing heads, bench grinders, lathe held arbours etc.

   Philip Marcou

   
4. 
   kesac | Jan 17, 2006 04:17am | #11

   Those planes are made to be used, flattened abused, scratched up and re flattened.  You aren't going to wear it out.  It will get uglier as time goes by.  You can call it patina.  Go and knock it off the bench, and get that behind you too, while your at it.