george wilson
08-04-2009, 11:04 PM
I just recalled a rather crazy plane iron incident from the 70's in Williamsburg.
The Cabinet Shop,which my shop was connected to,had a real nice jointer plane. It was in very nice condition,and had a very pretty handle,though 19th.C.. I don't recall,but the cabinet maker must have asked me to do something about the temper in its iron.
I took it to a forge,and was holding the iron over the fire,when 3/4" of the cutting end just FELL OFF! It had been SOFT SOLDERED on by someone before my time. Since the blade was dark all over,and this strange repair was most unexpected,I was surprised to say the least. Before I came to the museum,maybe in the 50's and 60's,there was a jack of all trades(and master of none) cabinet maker,who must have made this silly attempt to add some steel to the plane's iron. He had fitted the new steel on very nicely,grinding it to fit the bevel of the iron's cutting edge so closely that I didn't see it.
What amazed me was that this plane had been used for years in the cabinet shop and the iron had not fallen apart!
The Cabinet Shop,which my shop was connected to,had a real nice jointer plane. It was in very nice condition,and had a very pretty handle,though 19th.C.. I don't recall,but the cabinet maker must have asked me to do something about the temper in its iron.
I took it to a forge,and was holding the iron over the fire,when 3/4" of the cutting end just FELL OFF! It had been SOFT SOLDERED on by someone before my time. Since the blade was dark all over,and this strange repair was most unexpected,I was surprised to say the least. Before I came to the museum,maybe in the 50's and 60's,there was a jack of all trades(and master of none) cabinet maker,who must have made this silly attempt to add some steel to the plane's iron. He had fitted the new steel on very nicely,grinding it to fit the bevel of the iron's cutting edge so closely that I didn't see it.
What amazed me was that this plane had been used for years in the cabinet shop and the iron had not fallen apart!