A while ago I posted a message about cleaning and taking care of your tools. In that thread MyronW talked about making an oil applicator out of PVC pipe. It sounded like a really good idea and I have been planning to make one for a while now.
Well I finally got about to making something. I think it’s a little different than what MyronW talked about but still made out of pipe fittings you can get at any hardware store.
I used black ABS instead of PVC, but I don’t think it really matters. I was just able to find the parts I wanted in ABS. I used 2” parts for this project, but you could use any size that meets your needs.
I bought: a 2” plug, 2” cleanout adapter and a 2” cap.
For the oil applicator I used several layers of an old sheet and packed it with some pieces of sponge.
I used some of the leftover sponge pieces to fill in the bottom of the applicator.
After I got everything packed in, I made sure that the surface of the applicator was proud of the surface of the ABS fitting. I then gave it a good soak with Camellia Oil.
I then gave it a test drive on a new Shoulder Plane I just purchased. It worked really well. The whole applicator is small and easy to hold. I thought the big square “nut” on the plug was going get in the way, but really hasn’t. Now I have nice oil applicator that will always be on or near my bench.
-- Mike - http://inquisitivewoodworker.blogspot.com/
7 comments so far
teenagewoodworker
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2025 posts in 249 days
posted 161 days ago
thats cool. i might make one of those once i start getting some more hand tools. thanks for the post.
Chris
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posted 161 days ago
Really nice work Mike.. I like building something from nothing, not to mention it’s unique!
-- Chris
blackcherry
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posted 161 days ago
Thanks Mike for what will be a cool and handy thing to have on my workbench…I ‘ve been using a soak rag in a zip lock bag for quite some time now…Blkcherry
GaryK
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8482 posts in 469 days
posted 161 days ago
Interesting idea, Mike. I’ll have to remember it.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
rikkor
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posted 161 days ago
I made one for wiping plane irons out of an Altoids box and T-shirt material.
-- Maplewood, MN
Jeff
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posted 161 days ago
Thanks for sharing Mike. It will be nice to have something like this to quickly go over the planes after sharpening or at the end of a the day when the humidity kicks in up here.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Mike Lingenfelter
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389 posts in 595 days
posted 161 days ago
Rikkor,
I have an Altoids box setting in my shop that I was planning to do the same thing with. I plan have a couple/few of these guys hanging around. I want to make sure I always keep my metal tools protected.
-- Mike - http://inquisitivewoodworker.blogspot.com/