Replies

1. 
   BG | Apr 19, 2005 02:45am | #1

   Bear,
   I flatten the sole...starting with 100 grit and working up to 320. I also flatten the frog face and make sure the mechanism is smooth ..same as the sole. Check the mouth and file if needed. Then I work on the blade...blah, blah, blah. Set a tight mouth and a 1/16" chip breaker...bring on the balsa your ready to go...

    

1. 
   alias | Apr 19, 2005 03:42am | #2

   thanks B..will do"expectations are premeditated resentments"

2. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 19, 2005 05:58pm | #4

   I flatten the sole...starting with 100 grit and working up to 320..

   I gave up on a few old planes.. Well, doing it all at once.. I had a few I picked up that I did the sole every time I sharpened the blade.  Nothing to stressful.. In a week or two it was almost PERFECT!

1. 
   BG | Apr 19, 2005 06:49pm | #5

   Will,
   It seems that most of the rehabing of old planes works best over time...hitting it a few times. I used to get those rolls sandpaper with a sticky back from Woodworkers Warehouse and I have a couple of 4' lgths of granite..makes flattening about as easy as it can get...just very dirty. 

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 19, 2005 07:02pm | #6

   Dirty 'IS GOOD!'  Some metal removed..

2. 
   TomS | Apr 19, 2005 04:40am | #3

   Seems like in this age of almost unlimited electronic information, there should be some way to find out about this particular task:

   http://www.rexmill.com/

   http://www.johnswoodshop.us/Tuning%20a%20Plane.html

   http://www.cianperez.com/Wood/WoodDocs/Wood_How_To/Smalser_on_RehabbingPlanes.htm

   http://www.cianperez.com/Wood/WoodDocs/Wood_How_To/INDEX_How_To.htm

   Tom

3. 
   hammer1 | Apr 20, 2005 02:37pm | #7

   Don't you think it's a bit curious that old planes were not flattened and fettled with by previous owners? I guess the old timers just didn't know anything.

   If the plane is rusty, I would clean it up as gently as possible, 0000 steel wool or 400 wet or dry sandpaper if needed, on the bare steel. Go easy on the japanning, mineral spirits on a soft cloth. Sharpen the blade, check the fit of the chip breaker and try it out. I wouldn't go the point of extreme "restoration" unless the plane was in terrible shape. Once you become an expert with hand planes, you can determine what fettling is needed. Until then, you could just mess it up.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match