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Thread: Wooden Try Plane Refurbishment.

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Wooden Try Plane Refurbishment.

    Started work on refurbishing an early made wooden Try Plane. The makers mark; Edward Preston & Sons, Trade EP Mark, Warranted, Birmingham, England. Length 22" x Width 3 3/8", 2 1/2" original 2 piece iron, slight camber to the cutting edge.

    The original diamond impact pad is missing, the top surface is badly bruised from long term impact with a wooden mallet, the wooden tote has some slight damage to its top horn, as well as hairline crack forward of the finger hole, and the wooden sole a slight concave curve and some deep grooving.

    Removing the wooden tote proved quite challenging, but after a combination of strategies it eventually freed itself, albeit with some moderate force.

    show the severe bruising to the forward top surface of the plane body.


    wooden sole showing deep groove marks.


    top surface of the plane body after dressing back.


    original makers mark on the underside of the planes tote.


    I am not overly keen to waste my time documenting the full refurbishment process, but will post the odd update as time permits.

    Stewie;
    Last edited by Stewie Simpson; 01-02-2017 at 1:32 AM.

  2. #2
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    Interested to see how this goes along. Have a similar jointer in a little better shape but may eventually need sound TLC.

  3. #3
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    Nov 2013
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    Please do post, I hope it would encourage others to pick one up and put it to use.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    I also request politely for you to post as I love my woodies.
    Thanks!

  5. #5
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    The sole of the plane after being dressed back and checked for misalignment using the winding sticks and a steel straight edge.



    The sole of the plane was then scribe'd with pencil highlight, prior to being flat sanded on 220 grit. After flat sanding, the double iron and wedge were installed to check the mouth clearance in front of the cutting edge. The measurement taken was 3/32", more than adequate for a double iron plane. The grain direction on the sole was running from toe to heel as it should be. The slight shadow seen in the next photo was from the laser light roofing.



    Stewie;
    Last edited by Stewie Simpson; 01-03-2017 at 2:57 AM.

  6. #6
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    Looking good so far! Seems to have had almost as much abuse as an Ohio Tool Co. No. 81 that I had to tune up....

    For some reason, mine had a banana sole, high spot was the area around the mouth opening. How was yours?

  7. #7
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    Steven; there was a slight convex to the sole.

    I must say, I am a little surprised at the interest shown within this wooden plane refurbishment. Its much too primitive in shape, the body of the plane its not made of a cast metal, and it doesn't have a threaded depth adjuster.

    Stewie;

  8. #8
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    crooked mouth.jpg
    Mine also needed a bit of work around the mouth, as it was no longer square to the sides..
    IMAG0102.jpg
    Seems to do ok once cleaned up....

  9. #9
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    Keep it coming Stewie.
    It is amazing how similar my 17" W. Butcher ironed jack looks.
    Bill
    On the other hand, I still have five fingers.

  10. #10
    I am curious were you are going with the finish on this one. Personally I love old patina. The sides of this plane look marvelous to me.

  11. #11
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    Kees; then you are likely to be disappointed to hear that the old patina on this ole plane will be completely removed. The makers stamp on the front end of the plane will be preserved.

    Stewie;

  12. #12
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    Nice project Stewie!

  13. #13
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    All 4 sides of the planes stock have been dressed back and squared off, followed up by a sacrificial sealant coat to protect the bare wood from later staining during the next stage of refurbishment. Its likely Linseed Oil would have been the original finish used by the planes maker at that time period, but I wont be replicating its use as I personally consider its by-product's too volatile to have in my workshop. Other means will be used to try and replicate the darker aged patina of the timber.

    Stewie;

    Last edited by Stewie Simpson; 01-04-2017 at 5:57 AM.

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Stewie Simpson View Post
    Kees; then you are likely to be disappointed to hear that the old patina on this ole plane will be completely removed. The makers stamp on the front end of the plane will be preserved.

    Stewie;
    That's why I am curious what you'll do anh how it's going to look.

  15. #15
    Join Date
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    I think there's alot of us with a soft spot for the old woodies. I've only got 2 (bench planes, some hollows and rounds, and a couple plows etc, but 2 normal bench planes) but one is an Ohio Tools jack that looks quite a bit like yours. Squarish, beat up and filthy, rescued from my father in laws garage where it had been sitting since he was a young 'un, but even before I touched it it worked to a degree. I've cleaned it up quite a bit now but it still certainly shows it's age and abuse. I have to admit, I enjoy the patina and couldn't bring myself to mess with those surfaces other than cleaning. A strong, probably overly much cleaning if you where trying to preserve collector value, but well it's a beat and abused Ohio Tools jack, I'm not worried about that, just wanted it to look (and smell, yeah, seriously, paint, tar, oil, soot, geebus) better. When I saw that you had planed the top surface, a little part of me went WHAT?!?. Don't get me wrong, your tool, your thing, more power to you, just surprised me. The sole is a matter of making the plane work right, so it's fair game, but to me the abuse tells a story and I'm keeping it. Interested to see what you do with it though, I'd love to see more progress pics too. I don't recall if I've ever responded to one of your posts before, but I always enjoy them and am fascinated, so thanks for that.

    Jon

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