How 'bout a little plane refurb......pics...

[Terry Hatfield]

Howdy everyone,

Between sanding on my end table projects, surfing the web and watching football, I worked in doing a little cosmetic refurbing on Walt's (Brass City Tools)#8. The plane really didn't *need* this to be done but that never stopped me before. :D

Here's all the pieces.......

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I used paint stripper to get the old japanning off. It had been a while since I used stripper. It didn't take me long to remember how nasty the stuff is. Anyway, after a couple rounds of stripper and lots of sanding and scraping I got all the old japanning off and put the pieces on the wood stove in the shop for a bit of baking to insure all the moisture was gone.

I taped all the polished surfaces and used the engine paint suggestion from Johnny's site (Rex Mill) for the metal parts. It worked great!! It is super close to matching the original japanning on my other planes. I sanded and sprayed the wood parts with some gloss deft and used some 280 and 400 grit wet or dry paper to polish the cheeks. I put all this stuff on a piece of plywood on the stove and let 'er bake until after the Superbowl.

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I followed that up with some wax and a gray scotchbrite pad for the final finish on the cheeks. Left some patina instead of making it look perfect. I also rubbed out the laquer on the wood with 0000 steel wool and wax.

And here it is!!!

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Overall I am very pleased with how this turned out. Really jazzed up this fantastic #8.

Thanks for looking,

t

[Mike Scoggins]

Very nice job, Terry. That is one llllllllooonnnggggg plane. If it needed any lapping, I'm sure that job was just as long. It looks just as it should: good enough to warrant adding to your impressive collection! :)

Great job,
Mike

[Jim Dunn]

Terry,

Am I seeing things or, and I'm not even a plane novice, shouldn't or wouldn't this type of plane be better balanced if the handle were moved closer to the middle of the plane body? Kinda seem to me as long as that thing is it would be better served with an extra handle closer to the back end.
By the way it's still a pretty plane and you did an very good job of bringing it back to like new quality.

Jim

PS, If you modify the plane and can sell the patent I'll take my money in tools.:)

[Herb Blair]

Super job Terry. You are an inspiration!

[Terry Hatfield]

Thanks guys!!!!

I really enjoyed refinishing this plane. I know it won't be the last one I do.

t

[Roy Wall]

Terry,

I think that engine paint is the way to go.........well done my man!!

[Denny Lawson]

Terry,

shouldn't or wouldn't this type of plane be better balanced if the handle were moved closer to the middle of the plane body? Kinda seem to me as long as that thing is it would be better served with an extra handle closer to the back end.
:)
Jim,
I'll take a stab at this...

The real work takes place from the toe to just behind the iron, so the knob and tote are placed accordingly so that even pressure is applied to the iron.

The long tail on a jointer acts as a reference, (actually just the very tail end),similar to a tailed jointer infeed table, so that the plane will not follow small shallows in the wood.

Denny

[John Miliunas]

Looks GREAT, Terry! You got her looking like she just come out of another WW's prized collection. :) Is the sole and iron all flattened and ready to rock 'n roll, as well?:cool:

[Terry Hatfield]

Looks GREAT, Terry! You got her looking like she just come out of another WW's prized collection. :) Is the sole and iron all flattened and ready to rock 'n roll, as well?:cool:

Thanks John,

Yup, she's ready to rock!!! I'll tell you one thing about these big 'uns.....they are quite a work out!!! I wouldn't want to arm wrestle with anyone that had run one of these babies every day for a few years. Man, I even broke a sweat!!! :D

t

[Brian Buckley]

Terry,

She looks better than new. One of these days I will send you a picture of my planes.

Brian