Hand plane refinishing idea and question re: heat

Tommy, I’m no expert on cast iron, but I have a #5 that went through a house fire.’
Bought it for parts, but at one point wondered if the body was salvagable. Short answer..NO..
It had warped side to side and twisted front to back, It’s now screwed to a 2×4 as a mount for refinishing toes and such.

-- Glen, Vernon B.C. Canada

Hmmm…a house fire would seem to be a bit more of an extreme of temp than a 500 degree oven, don’t you think?

-- - Tommy

Just tossing it out, it would depend I guess, on where it was in the fire ;-0
It’d be an interesting experiment, I’ve seen the “seasoned” effect somewhere, cam’t remember where
There was also a posting on HPOD with a guy who’s used gun bluing as a finish.
(oh, and in my 1st reply, totes, not toes..the wife’s into the nail polish, me not so much..;-)

-- Glen, Vernon B.C. Canada

I don’t think I’d risk it on a good plane until i’ve tested it. There are plenty of clear coat products. Brownells has gun smithing products I’ve used that only require 300 degrees. (I’ve never tried them on planes or cast)

What’s SMC?

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

Don-

Haven’t ever used gun blue or anything like that, but from what I’ve seen I think it makes it too dark for my tastes. I may have to just try and pick up a POS plane somewhere and just run it through the paces to see how much it warps the body, if at all….

SMC = Saw. Mill. Creek. another popular WW forum

-- - Tommy

They have a rattle can finish that even comes in clear. I’ve got a couple of my deer rifles finished with it(only parts of them are clear) Its used on a lot of production rifles. Its easy and a lot more durable than I thought it would be.

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

you can always try it on a POS plane that ins unsalvageable in terms of other parts, see the effect of the treatment on it without worrying much. if it works – put the rest of the planes through the same process. if it doesn’t – go with another route

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

If I were to try the oven routine, I think I’d insert the plane in the oven before turning it on. And I’d leave the plane in the oven for at least an hour after shutting the oven off.

-- From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. - Prov 12:14

Anybody have a POS plane body they want to donate to the cause? :-)

-- - Tommy

you have 7 posts in almost a year, it sucks when someone comes here just for selfish questions..

-- 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

I had the same thought after baking my Benchmark hand wheels w/ flax oil. They came out looking really good. In the end I was afraid to try it on my planes. I’m sure it would make them look really cool but I was afraid the heat would warp the cast iron.

-- Bondo Gaposis

Wow Francisco, that’s funny. I was just thinking about how much it sucks when all someone has to contribute is an ignorant and vapid response. My post was asking for thoughts and opinions. If you consider that selfish, then by all means keep yours to yourself. I certainly have no need for them.

-- - Tommy

Saw Mill Creek is waiting for you.

-- 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

I like the idea of using blueing on one of my planes. Maybe my little Shelton smoother. Sorry, I know this doesn’t actually contribute, but I actually really your idea. I would love to know how that works because all of my planes are pretty much users with only slight collector value.

I’m really sorry tommy, I’m nobody to say things like I did…...please forgive me, I’m just having rough days.

-- 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