finish on handplanes

How about Shellac.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I figure anything would work. Poly would be pretty tough. I didn’t finish mine, just igured I’d let the oils from my hands do it.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken

An oil finish works well. It’s fine to leave them unfinished, a natural patina will develop and is preferred by most, myself included. I do have some planes that have been oiled with BLO.

-- http://timberwerksstudio.blogspot.com/

What I’ve heard most is to simply let use be the finish. Oils from your hands, natural wear, etc. Sweat from your hands won’t harm the wood. If you really prefer a finish, I’d soak it in BLO. I’d imagine that would be preferable to a film finish on a hand plane.

-- Anything worth doing is worth redoing several times.

Opinion seems to be oil it or leave it au natural. I went out today looking for BLO and nobody in this country has heard of it, or shellac for that matter. Still don,t really want to leave it with nothing, any other ideas.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

Shoe polish wax also would do like my bow saw.

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

I suggest doing what has been done for hundreds of years. If you want to finish the plane just soak it in linseed oil for a few days then let it dry for a few weeks. It will be completely impregnated with oil and will last many generations.

You can also do nothing and let the oils from your hands work themselves into the wood. I would not put a film finish on a plane as it will eventually crack and peel off.

-- Julian, Park Forest, IL

No go on the linseed oil in this country julian, i think I will go with the wax idea from Woodworm (nice bowsaw by the way, you obviosly spent more time on yours than i did on mine :-) Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

Tung oil would also work if you can find it there.

-- http://timberwerksstudio.blogspot.com/