Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Storage of high $ Japanese planes and saws
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
A fiend who was into Japanese woodworking methods died and left behind a collection of quality saws and planes. It will be a while before their fate is decided. My question is, how should they be prepared for storage? Should the metal parts be coated with something? Should the wedges be loosened in the planes, or the blades removed? Other advice?
Re: Storage of high $ Japanese planes and saws
JohnV
you can buy especially treated cloth bags for storing valuable items like these and silverware. At a minimum get some of the silica gel crystals used to prevent moisture contamination. Readily available on internet and probably even locally in cities. Hardware stores and big box stores most likely.
Re: Storage of high $ Japanese planes and saws
Dick Coers
Just make sure they aren't exposed to temperature and humidity extremes. If the shop is going to go unused, maybe box up the tools and place them on the floor of a closet in the home. I would loosen the wedge, add some kind of desiccant to the box or wrap in VCI paper. Not sure about the life of the VCI paper, but maybe enough for this case.
Re: Storage of high $ Japanese planes and saws
Barry Irby
I agree with the above. Just don't let the desiccant touch the steel.
Re: Storage of high $ Japanese planes and saws
Brian Holcombe
I’d back the blades out so the dai do not form cracks in dry conditions. Other than that you should oil it.
After which, you can ship it all to me.
Camellia oil
Ellis Walentine
The Japanese woodworkers I've known all wipe camellia oil on their plane irons and saw blades to inhibit rust.
The dai and other wooden parts would want to be stored in neutral conditions of humidity and temperature. Fettling of the wooden plane bodies is a normal and routine chore, even for planes that are used often.
Ellis