Hand Plane ???

[Dave Crabbs]

Hi All,
I just bought a Stanley Bailey #3 Off E-bay for $8.00 The Stanley Bailey #5 I inherited from my Dad. I would like to clean and tune them up. I figured I could use steel wool or a synthetic pad and solvent to remove the rust film, but what would you clean the lever caps with to give them a little shine? These plane are intended to be users. Also are there any books or videos that you would recommend for a novice like me just starting out using hand planes?

Thanks,
Dave

[Spence DePauw]

Dave, I would (and have) used automotive chrome cleaner on those particular lever caps. They are nickel plated, and the chrome cleaner works pretty well. If the plating is gone, it won't help that, but the minor rust etc. goes away very easily.

Spence

[Dan Forman]

Dave---The short answer is that the lever caps have a nickel plating, so look for a metal polish that works for nickel. Don't use abrasives on this.

There is a video by Earnie Conover called "Reclaiming Flea Market Planes" put out by Taunton Press which will take you through the whole process. http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/014030.asp

Our own Bob Smalser also has a tutorial on rehabing old planes. http://www.cianperez.com/Wood/WoodDocs/Wood_How_To/Smalser_on_RehabbingPlanes.htm

This may also be helpful http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=6011

This is one of the most informative sites on handplanes, with many links as well. http://www.rexmill.com/ I cant link to a specific page, so go there and click on "hand planes" in the left hand margin, then scroll down to "Hand plane tune up" and click on that. At the bottom of that page, there are links to a very detailed David Charlesworth article on tuning planes. Look around the rest ot the site too, there is much there of interest.

Dan

[Brent Richardson]

I might add if you go to the Bob Smalser rehab page from Dan's post, go all the way to the bottom and click on the "Return to How-To Index" link. It will take you to Cian Perez link page which will offer you a wealth of info on planes and other hand tools. If you have\get the handtool bug there will be enough info there to sift through for quite a while. Have fun.:)


Brent R

[Dave Crabbs]

Thanks everyone for the help you gave me to clean and tune up my planes. The website links are very helpful.

Once again Thank You,
Dave