Back at the end of November my Father rolled into town. He had brought a truck-load of booty from California. Amongst the junk from my childhood was a N06 that had belonged to my Great Grandfather. It was rusted, missing the knob, tote cracked into about 4 pieces, and had not likely cut a shaving in more than 30 years. I really should have taken a picture as I received the plane. To date it is the crustiest plane that I have brought back to life.
edit 1/21 okay, I managed to dig up a partial before image
Here it is in the Evapo-rust and it gives some clue what I mean by crusty…
This afternoon I prepped a blade for it. It isn’t vintage. In fact the blade is from a type16 plane. But since I am cambering it heavily and using this No6 as a true fore plane I figured this is a moot point. The later planes have thicker irons which will work out adventaegously. Here is a shot of the cambered and sharpened blade. I may need to open up the mouth a bit to accomodate the thick shavings.
It didn’t clog with my testing this afternoon. If it bugs me I will adjust it. As it is I am impressed with the workings of this plane. It cleans up like a scrub, but has a lot more mass and stability. I think I will be spending plenty of quality time with this plane in the near future.
Near as I can tell this is a type6. I have restored it to close to mint parts and function.
Hopefully this tool will last a few more generations…
-- Doug, woodworking in Alabama






















8 comments so far
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 855 days
posted 306 days ago
Looks like a good user to me.
-- Thos. Angle
Karson
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25795 posts in 1293 days
posted 306 days ago
A great looking plane. You should have had some shaving hanging off the edges in the picdtures.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Quixote
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167 posts in 530 days
posted 306 days ago
I have a similiar tool that belonged to my grandfather.
While he’s been gone for many years, when I use the tool, I can reach back through time where he’s teaching me how to use it and I’m 9 years old again.
Priceless.
Q
-- I don't make sawdust...I produce vast quantities of "Micro Mulch."
woodworm
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8184 posts in 483 days
posted 306 days ago
Great restoration job!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
motthunter
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2079 posts in 691 days
posted 306 days ago
nice restore
-- making sawdust....
Beginningwoodworker
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4102 posts in 565 days
posted 306 days ago
Nice restoration job.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Douglas Bordner
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3424 posts in 956 days
posted 306 days ago
Got my Granddad’s low knob No. 5, still at work for the third generation in our family. Just like they say, ”There’s no tool like an old tool.”
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
dsb1829
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369 posts in 520 days
posted 306 days ago
Thanks for the comments everyone. This plane is a hoot. It is my oldest and the only one that doesn’t have a reverse threaded adjuster. So I am adjusting it the wrong way more often than not.
I wish that I knew the whole story on the plane. Coming from sometime around 1890 my Great Grandfather was likely the 2nd or third owner of this plane. Wonder if it was a family tool prior to his ownership?
-- Doug, woodworking in Alabama