Weekend of learning -planes & free wood
Well, it’s been interesting…
Saturday I decided to go to my first estate auction after seeing “old Delta tablesaw and jointer-planer”. Upon arriving, I see an unadvertised table with old tools. I move closer and discover a bunch of old planes. In the mix were 2 Stanley Baileys, #5 and #6c. At this point I’m excited (mistake number one) because I’ve been long wanting to learn the discipline of hand tols, as well as start a little collection of working antiques. Long story short, it was a good 6 hours before the guy made it to this table. After waiting thru all of the old boxes of underwear and other worthless crap this guy was selling, nobody’s gettin’ between me and my Baileys. lol
I paid too much, and I’d like to thank eBay for rubbing it in just how badly.
I got home and read The Handplane Book a little closer, and learned that the #5 is not a bad one to have on hand, but the author rarely uses his #6. Of course I realize that’s just his opinion, so I’m not all that worried. In fact, as the day went on, I actually didn’t care as much. I had my first auction experience, learned some, and now have 2 planes to laugh about. I just factor in some of the cost as the convenience of being able to inspect what I bought.
Then I get a call last night from my brother telling me there’s a big chunk of walnut on the side of the road in town for free. I hop in the car to find about a 2′ tall chunk ‘o trunk from a freshly felled tree. Probably about 7’ around and heavy as hell, I go home empty handed (the Jetta wasn’t going to play along on this one). later we come up with a scheme to get it mobile, so I go back…
and it’s gone.
Maybe this was a blessing in disguise, as I have absolutely no way to get anything like that chopped down, nor do I have the experience in making lumber from green trees. Did I miss out on a good deal, or is that something just used for firewood?
Tony in WI
Replies
2 feet tall and 7 feet around? Did I read that right? Any free walnut is good, but you'll need a lot wood to justify getting a sawyer to cut it up. I guess a blank that size would best be split for turning.
On the subject of the Bailey #6, I have 2 and use both of them regularly. One has a slightly rounded iron for flattening panels. The other has a flat iron for my miter jack (Is that the right term??). With the #6 and miter jack I can make perfect 90 degree angles much quicker and easier than fussing with a miter saw or whatever. I plan to make a 45 degree miter jack when I have the time (and a project that needs it). Planes are great tools; learn to use them are the quality of your projects will grow by leaps and bounds.
Welcome to the club of buying overpriced used tools. I bought a #78 on ebay for $60 to find out the faces aren't square and neither is the fence. I like to say it's my way of gambling. Around my parts, #5s and #6s can be had for $15 at garage sales, when you find one.
They are also called shooting boards. If you are familiar with ShopNotes magazine, the latest issue has an article on constructing an adjustable one, with fixed stops at 90 & 45.
I just picked that issue up. Very cool jig -I'm adding it to the stack of "stuff to build"
tony in wi
Tony,
I wouldn't worry too much about the planes.
Australian cabinetmakers are trained to use the No6 as their bench plane, with a block plane and maybe (occasionally) a smoother as the only ones we use. Once you get used to the slightly extra weight, you'll appreciate the flatter surfaces you get because of it's extra length and width (extra 3/8" iron width compared to a No.5). It's also long enough to joint smaller panels. (Jointers, they say, are capable of flattening an edge up to three times the length of the plane).
Cheers, eddie
Edited 9/16/2002 9:12:05 PM ET by eddie
Thanks for the insight, guys. I'm looking forward to using the planes, and it's good to hear that others use them with regularity. My girlfriend just came home from a trip to her grandparents with a suprise for me... A Millers Falls number 90 smooth plane! According to my research, they are basically the Stanley 1204, and while it's no million dollar find, I thought it was cool on her part to ask, and on her grandpa's part to run and get it without hesitation. Now I have plane fever, and I'm turning into an auction/estate junkie. The fun is yet to come when I start refinishing them!
As for the walnut, it was probably about 6-7 feet around, and I figured it would only be good for turning... apparently someone else thought so, too! lol
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