Newly Acquired Merit Plane

I haven’t seen or heard much about Merit planes. The only data I can come up with is that there’s a Merit smooth plane (probably very similar to yours) at http://www.workingtools.biz/ for $25.

I’d fix it up and use it if I had it.

Never heard of it. Fix it up and use it. It looks like about the size of a #5. some one probably “spiffed ” it up with paint. You can get Crown totes and knobs at Woodcraft. Have fun, Marc.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

It does look like a #5 (about 14 inches long). This is a plane that could be very useful for removing cup and twist from a rough cut board prior to puting it through the planer. I would go ahead and flatten the sole, and sharpen the iron. The chip breaker may also need a little stoning. I definitely would fix it up and let it “sing” again.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

I’d agree—restore and return to service.

-- Maplewood, MN

Mine was fun to restore into a working tool. Ripped some hard maple the other day, had burn marks from the saw blade and I shuddered at the thought of the time needed to sand all those marks out…then I grabbed my “restored” plane and ZZZZZIPPP! It was sooo beautiful! All those marks just magically disappeared!

So restore it! Then post your results.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Thank you. Yes, I am going to bring it back to service. I found some old rear totes on Ebay and will fabricate a new front one from some mahogany or hard maple. It is same size as my other 5s, but iron is much shorter. I have just finished geting initial edge on the old iron. It had 3 different bevels and the edge was not square, either. I have a couple of old 110’s in the same condition as well as new bench and block planes I got for Christmas that vI need to put the initial edge on, too. I am had a sharpening party!

Even with my Work Sharp, I still am using grinders and stones. All the way from my wooden #37 and #7 to my littlest the bullnose, they all got a new edge or honing. Woo wee, what a job that was! I am still working on those old 110’s, too. The irons were in terrible shape! I look forward to getting the old Merit, along with a rust-bucket Stanley restored to use this spring, thanks to the electrolisys post from David.

God Bless,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards