I find that I really enjoy taking an old plane thats been lying fallow for years and bringing it back to life.When I start it, she cuts crappy. Maybe the sole isnt flat, maybe the iron needs flattened and sharpened, etc. Then, after a few evenings' effort, she's a fully functional tool again, making nice shavings. Sometimes, just bringing her back to life scratches my shop itch for the week and I dont feel like doing any actual projects for a few days. :0
Does anyone else get a kick out of this like I do?
I realize this sounds odd coming the day after I started a thread about upgrading my tools to more modern pieces. But all week Ive been working to tuneup a second wooden dado plane I bought in really nice condition. She just wouldnt give me a good dado, and today I finally got it right. She just hums. To get there, I even got to learn to anneal metal - something I hadnt done before (the nicker iron had been hardened by an earlier owner). The tool was in superb physical condition without a mark on it, nor any severe rust. But the blade was dull, the nickers were very worn and mishapen and the sole was 1/16" out of flat. It was a fun little project.
Fred