Plane handle help...

Re: Plane handle help...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>The good side of the Record 405 handle...

Re: Plane handle help...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>The bad side...

Re: Plane handle help - not needed

paul womack

>You call those BAD?

If ya' must, just use any stripper of your choice to get the existing finish off, sandpaper the raised grain, restain the beech, and apply a new finish. If you're after a nice "touch" use multiple coats of oil or wipe on varnish, or if you want it mirror shiny (and sweaty to use IMHO), use shellac.

But (to re-emphasise) I would consider your handles to be good enough already.

And the rest of your router is in wondrous condition. How are you planning to sharpen the cutters? ;-)

I assume you'll want them as perfect as your refinished handles...!

BugBear

Re: Plane handle help...

Michael Stadulis, in Gloucester County, NJ

>Chris,

Simply use lacquer tinner and 0000 steel wool, which works very fast. Wiping down with oil will re-color the wood which will loose some stain in the process. I've never restained handles.

Mike

What the pictures don't show is...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>... how the finish literally crumbles off the router handles. After taking that pic, I had to brush off the table it was sitting on, since it was covered in little crunchy red particles. It almost looked like I broke some glass and then ground it up or like I took a piece of hard candy and smashed it a few times while it was still wrapped and then opened it up.

Tonight I'll put down a piece of paper, and then just pick it up a few times. Then I'll sweep all the particles into a little pile so it will be easier to see in another picture.

:)

At the rate it is coming off, there will be little finish left on the handles after some minimal use. On a side note, the router is in great shape, except for the handles which seems kind of strange.

As to the 405 handle, yes it looks good on one side but the bad side feels well, bad. I grab it and it feels like sandpaper. It looks like the handle had something spilled on it or was left in water I would guess.

;)

Re: What the pictures don't show is...

paul womack

>It looks like the handle had something spilled on it or was left in water I would guess.

I'd guess ultraviolet (AKA sunlight) damage. Hence the localised effect.

BugBear

Re: What the pictures don't show is...

Ernie Miller Topeka

>If it crumbles off that easly I would just use them for awile untill it whears off then give it a coat of BLO It seems to make tools feal better in your hand. some day they will have a nice patina.

Re: What the pictures don't show is...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>hmm...interesting...

So what finishes that were used on handles are that sensitive to sunlight?

Laquer?

Shellac?

Varnish?

:)

"Twas Brylopad..."

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I use regular pot-cleaning pads of steel wool -- SOS or Brillo for plane cleaning. Generally works quite well on loose finishes. Wash, wipe, dry; put on an oil finish or long-oil varnish (I'm fond of Watco because I have some and it dries faster than BLO, in my experience).

Just because you're using a kitchen tool, don't think you can necessarily get away with doing this in the kitchen sink, by the way, unless you live alone or have a tolerant LOYL. This is why God invented laundry tubs and garage cleanup sinks.

Re: What the pictures don't show is...

Jack from Maine

>Light was the thing I thought of first when I saw your picture.

On another note:I have an old plane with a broken rosewood tote. I cleaned the break and epoxied the handle. When it dried the finish looked nasty so I sanded it with 180 then 220 grit paper by hand.Just enough to get the surface finish off and remove the scratches. I cleaned the dust off and waxed it. It looks perfect. Nice finish.---Jack

Re: What the pictures don't show is...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>hmm....

I might have to try that with the 405...

So what was/is the finish on...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>most of these handles?

Lacquer?

Varnish?

Shellac?

Re: What the pictures don't show is...

paul womack

>AFAIK all finishes are damaged by UV, in sufficient quantity.

But oil finishes can't really crack or flake, and wax finishes can trivially removed/renewed.

So the damage is less obvious or important. In any case, I prefer holding wood to holding a finish.

BugBear

Re: So what was/is the finish on...

Alice Frampton, UK

>Lacquer on Record handles I think. I've had more than a few handles that have got damp and the finish has been cracking off. I just ping off the rest with the edge of a sraper, sand and refinish as desired. With the stained beech handles they always seem to look better re-stained and then a coat or two of shellac. An advantage of this I know see is that it makes your tools safe from BugBear... ;~)

Cheers, Alf

Good point alice...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>I'll have to file that bit of data away...

:)

Fortunately, BugBear population low around here

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Otherwise, I'd have to go refinish about 40 handles and knobs.

Re: Fortunately, BugBear population low around her

Alice Frampton, UK

>Well I'm dangerously near the home colony for BugBears here; no ocean as a barrier :~S As long as strict controls are used at Customs on your side you should be okay. I was bit surprised one was let into Australia last year, the Aussies are usually so careful about letting non-indigenous wildlife in...

Cheers, Alf

Sorry BB, couldn't resist. :~)

Re: Fortunately, BugBear population low around her

paul womack

>Any more trouble from you down there, and we'll make an incision at the Devon border and float Cornwall into the Atlantic!

BugBear

Re: Fortunately, BugBear population low around her

Alice Frampton, UK

>Heh heh :~) Didn't you know? If you do that Cornwall would stay put and the rest of Great Britain floats off and hits Europe.

Oh dear. That'd put a whole lot of other tools in danger instead... ;~)

Cheers, Alf