The Essential Oilpot

[Patrick Chase]

Gosh I almost feel criminal here. I keep one of those blue paper shop towels with a few drops of 3 in1 on it on the bench and a block of paraffin nearby. I use one or the other depending on the tool or the situation. I replace the shop towel every few days and have no guess as to the age of the paraffin. I think I may make one of those oil containers someday. No rust problem so far.
Jim

If it works, it works :-)

[Stewie Simpson]

I am assuming the recommendation to use an oil to lubricate the soles of your planes comes with a caveat that restricts its use to metal planes only.

[Stanley Covington]

I am assuming the recommendation to use an oil to lubricate the soles of your planes comes with a caveat that restricts its use to metal planes only.

Nope. Wooden planes make friction too.

[Frederick Skelly]

Another great topic Stan. 4,000 views and nearly 100 replies says it all.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us!
Fred

[Stanley Covington]

Another great topic Stan. 4,000 views and nearly 100 replies says it all.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us!
Fred

qay'be' (Klingon for "no problemo")

Stan

[Stanley Covington]

Thank you for your time and effort in posting. I'll have to make one. A PVC pipe caps are more common than bamboo here. I use Mobil 1 0-20wt as gun oil, never have to worry about cold sticking the firing pin. My wife uses mineral oil for her lapidary saws. Hydraulic oil had been recommended but, but as a millwright, I know that stuff is not good for you.

PVC would no doubt make an excellent oilpot. Probably functionally better, and more durable, if less neanderthalic, than bamboo or white oak. Certainly better than a metal can.

Please make one and share it with us!

Stan

[Derek Cohen]

Here is a quick-and-easy oil wicke ...

Take one finger/postage stamp lubricator (I do not know the correct term) and add 3-in-1 oil.



This is flexible rubber with a sponge inside. It cannot damage the plane ...



It works well enough to get an idea if this is something you may prefer to a candle.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Mike Holbrook]

That container looks like it might be silicone like the glue brush trays I bought the other day. I was thinking about using one of the glue trays for an oil wick if the structure isn't too flimsy. Derek's container looks like it would be lest likely to spill. The silicone in the glue trays isn't suppose to allow the glue to bond to it, allowing any dried glue to be easily removed. I was wondering if anything in oil might destroy/marr silicone. Maybe Derek gave me the answer. My silicone kitchen utensils do not seem to mind vegetable/coconut/olive oils.

I got a couple silicone brushes with the glue trays, maybe I will try applying/spreading oil with one. They may hold too much oil, but if they keep the oil off my hands it might be worth it for me. Can't wait to see if the silicone brushes are reusable after the glue dries.

[John Schtrumpf]

My oil pot with 3 in 1 oil (in the gluebot), grease box with lithium grease (for plane threads etc) and candle. The oil pot is the bottom of a vitamin bottle and I keep it in a snapware container.

oilpotclosed.jpg
oilpotopen.jpg

[Stanley Covington]

My oil pot with 3 in 1 oil (in the gluebot), grease box with lithium grease (for plane threads etc) and candle. The oil pot is the bottom of a vitamin bottle and I keep it in a snapware container.

oilpotclosed.jpg
oilpotopen.jpg

Thanks for sharing.

The vitamin bottle is very clever, and cheap too.

How does the grease box work? Does the grease seep out?

Stan

[John Schtrumpf]

...How does the grease box work? Does the grease seeping out?
Stan

The grease isn't seeping out, it is smeared on the box from an over filling. If you search for 'Roy Underhill grease box' you will find more information on it. It's a trick box where you swing the top piece to the side and then the next piece back off the dove tail.

Edit: The episode http://www.pbs.org/video/1425807116/ Dovetailed Grease Pot

[Luke Dupont]

Just tried using mineral oil on the sole of my plane...

I was left giddy and speechless. I've always disliked how difficult it is to push handplanes, and thought perhaps I just wasn't getting them "super scary sharp" enough. But, a little oil on the sole and my smoothing plane simply glides along almost effortlessly.

I'm a complete convert now. I'll never use a plane with an unoiled sole again! Seriously. This is at least as important as sharpening!

PS. Does this also work with wooden planes?

[Jim Koepke]

PS. Does this also work with wooden planes?

Yes.

Old hunks of candle wax work wonders to make planes work wood. I also have a cloth saturated with an oil and wax formula furniture polish that is often used to wipe down tools. As I recall it is mineral oil, beeswax and carnauba wax with a little bit of lemon scent. It is great on the metal and the wooden handles.

jtk

[Luke Dupont]

Yes.

Old hunks of candle wax work wonders to make planes work wood. I also have a cloth saturated with an oil and wax formula furniture polish that is often used to wipe down tools. As I recall it is mineral oil, beeswax and carnauba wax with a little bit of lemon scent. It is great on the metal and the wooden handles.

jtk

Thanks. I may try that!

I'm kind of curious; what benefit does wax, or wax+oil have over just simply oil?

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks. I may try that!

I'm kind of curious; what benefit does wax, or wax+oil have over just simply oil?

Wax is easy to keep on the bench, easy to handle and doesn't make a mess if it is dropped.

Mostly though it is just what was handy at the time. It is used often on my lathe turned handles before removing them from the lathe. The heat generated from the friction gets it to soak into the wood a bit.

Think of wax as oil in a solid form.

jtk