Plane Restoration #2: Bedrock 603 - Halfway there

Good idea on replacing the iron and chip breaker with ones from Hock. They are not cheap but, as I have said many times, with tools you get what you pay for. The Hock iron will improve the performance of this plane.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I have been wanting one of these as i have begun using handtools alot more. I can’t decide on buying a bunch of these Bedrocks on e-bay or buying SLOWLY from Lie-Nielsen. When I first saw this plane I did not think you would get it looking that good. WELL DONE!! I am now jealous.

-- Jed,Ala,jmwoodworks057.com

You’re doing a nice job on the refurbishing and I’ve learned something new about molasses. How much elbow grease did you have to use? A 603 for $2.50 – I want to go shopping with you.

-- Phil in British Columbia

not a whole lot….make sure you heat either the water or the molasses so that they mix well. Otherwise its pretty sloppy and the molasses sits on the bottom. I let it soak for 2 days, then used my dremel with a wire brush attachment and just genly scrubbed at the parts. I also used a brass brush for the harder parts. I did take it out after the first 24 hours and scrubbed with the brass brush.

I used 12 oz of molasses to 1 gallon of water. There is supposed to be another kind of molasses that is really good for this called black line or black stripe or something like that.

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

Looks like it is coming along great. You can use clear schellac to protect the body of the plane. On an old bedrock I would not change the original finish to preserve it’s future value.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Yep, thats why I was hesitant about using the commercial de rusters, they seem to remove a lot of what the collectors are looking for….I was surprised after I got it all cleaned up just how much of the original black finish was still in tact….

Wayne do you think spray shellac or clear krylon would be ok?

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

Blackstrap molasses is used as a supplement to cattle feed (or it used to be when I was young). It is also very black and supposedly not as sweet. Amazon sells one they call unsulfured. I am glad to hear that it has a use in removing a little rust. I have a Stanley no. 7 that I need to clean up a bit and a neighbor gave me a bottle of blackstap that is outdated by about 5 years so I now know what to do with it instead of tossing it.
Thanks for the post.

-- jstegall

I was applied some shellac with a brush. The idea is that it can be easily removed. I am not sure about the spray version. I would stay away from Krylon.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov