storing wooden planes

[Matthew N. Masail]

simply put, is it ok to store these in a tool cabinet with a dehumidifier, or should they be on shelving with some air circulation ?

[Leigh Betsch]

Heck if I know, I just leave them scatterd all over my bench! When my wife asks why I don't put my tools away I just tell her I like to look at them.

[Jim Matthews]

Most of my wooden body planes have a wax finish from the maker.

If you're storing them in a wooden cabinet, the humidity should be pretty constant.
(I haven't a clue what Israeli weather is like - temperate?) The real risk is in seasonal change affecting the fit of the blade and wedge.

I would suggest you tap out the iron and oil it, after daily use. That will inhibit rust formation.

jim
wpt, ma
(where basements are damp, the way they should be...)

[Zach Dillinger]

Mine live in my tool chests with no ill effects. No dehumidifying technology, other than a few silica packets thrown in my chisel and gouge tills.

[Bill White]

I keep mine in a wooden chest (that's about 30 planes-big box). I keep the irons loose.
Bll

[Matthew N. Masail]

got it. so fine, they'll go (once I make them) in the tool cabinet I'm making now. my only form of humidity control is a some silica gel like product too, but it seems to work quite well. Israel has ALL (almost) kinds of whether, where I am it's pretty stable. extremely hot (can be 104+) in the summer and not too cold in the winter, I mean, nothing compared to NJ, and no where near freezing. humidity seems to be about 45-65%.
correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's actually a good environment for woodworking.

[john brenton]

It was good enough for Jesus.


got it. so fine, they'll go (once I make them) in the tool cabinet I'm making now. my only form of humidity control is a some silica gel like product too, but it seems to work quite well. Israel has ALL (almost) kinds of whether, where I am it's pretty stable. extremely hot (can be 104+) in the summer and not too cold in the winter, I mean, nothing compared to NJ, and no where near freezing. humidity seems to be about 45-65%.
correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's actually a good environment for woodworking.

[Jim Matthews]

It was good enough for Jesus.

But the Nazarene cabinetry market was undercut by cheap imports, so he had to teach instead.

jim
wpt, ma

[Jack Curtis]

But the Nazarene cabinetry market was undercut by cheap imports, so he had to teach instead.

:) Although, I'm not sure things Jesus are all that relevant to a Jewish nation.

[Matthew N. Masail]

Actually Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi..... :confused: If he was a carpenter, and worked outside here, him and his wood were nicely tanned that's for sure !

[Jim Matthews]

So - what are you building, these days, MNM?

jim
wpt, ma

[Jack Curtis]

Actually Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi..... :confused: If he was a carpenter, and worked outside here, him and his wood were nicely tanned that's for sure !

Was that a post mortem appointment? :)

[Roderick Gentry]

In thirty years I have had two planes that went out of tune from the environment. One was a Japanese jointer back in the 80s that got really bad. I kept it, but I didn't hold out much hope. It actually was pretty bad, but it is usable after I gained a lot more experience. Another was a pretty extreme plane that was made for a particular job, and is not really typical of anything most people have. Most planes are not adversely affected, and I have had a lot more trouble from planes that rusted than I have had problems with moisture on wood planes. Of course it depends on conditions. I have had shops in basements, and garages, and commercial buildings, the conditions have not been super stable, and I move the planes a to new homes several times a year. I do nothing special to store them. Wooden planes can be designed to exclude moisture change and make them very stable, if you have some really crazy conditions in mind.