Hand Plane Restoration

This article covers the basics of everything you need to know to get those things good as new.

-- Brian in Arlington, TX - Laziness is the foundation of efficiency.

Oh yeah, and Don (whose blog I linked you to) makes really nice plane totes and knobs.

-- Brian in Arlington, TX - Laziness is the foundation of efficiency.

honestly, the first four planes are not worth the effort and time of restoration. they are planes of lesser quality that will disappointing you when using them.

-- Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain" Frank Lloyd Wright

But, you can also fix them back up, and SELL them on Ebay, and maybe have enough to buy a better one one the Ebay site. Maybe it’s just me, but I usually try to restore any wayward plane that comes in the front door. If nothing else, one learns HOW to restore planes back to almost new condition. If you want, i think even I have a few blogs/projects about restores. Couple of the ones i restored, though were in BAD shape…

REAL BAD shape…

Bought a new base for it, cleaned the rest, made some new handles…

Not bad for a wrecked DE#6c????

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use

Thank you all for the advice, I will have a look at the article and upload my progress.

-- Mo... For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind. ~ "Eleanor Everet" - http://www.thiswoodshop.com

I don’t agree the first 4 are not worth restoring. The only one questionable is the 4th one, and I’d just make it a jack. Even Harbor freight planes can jack.

Right Bandit?

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

Here a image from the front…

-- Mo... For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind. ~ "Eleanor Everet" - http://www.thiswoodshop.com

I bought most of my hand planes in the 90s, and I’m astounded by how much planes are going for on ebay nowadays. 15 years is a long time, I guess! But I used to be able to pick up a really nice Stanley/Bailey with few problems for $30-40.

With a little care, you can rehabilitate a pretty well-trashed metal plane to good working order. It won’t be a precious gem like something from Bridge City, or even a well-made modern plane like a Veritas. But it’ll work pretty well so long as you flatten the sole, clean up the frog, and sharpen the blade and chipbreaker.

-- Miles

Looks like #4 is a Two Tone? Maroon w/ yellow STANLEY on the lever cap? Maybe a Made in England? #3 is a Handyman #4, I think I might have one or two like that ( or USED to look like that) The two block planes? Should be easy enough to fix up. The BIG GUY? Save it for last. Get used to fixing up planes by doing the others.

As for H-F planes? I think I have ONE…..

the one I used as an Avatar….

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use

From what i can still read on them left to tight

Stanley, Stanley, Stanley Handyman, Stanley and the last one is made in the usa but looks like it was made from aluminium.

http://www.thiswoodshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Hand-Plane-Restoration3.jpg

-- Mo... For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind. ~ "Eleanor Everet" - http://www.thiswoodshop.com

The one “Non-Stanley ” looks like a Buck Brothers block plane, just the way that knob bolt looks. Some can get it to make shavings, so can’t. Might be the only one of the five one will have trouble with. Might save it for rough work, when you don’t know what is in the wood. Save the good planes for when the wood is clean, and free of metal/dirt/stones.

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use

Thanks, Ill post a update later

-- Mo... For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind. ~ "Eleanor Everet" - http://www.thiswoodshop.com