cleaning planes

Re: cleaning planes

Scott Post

>I use mineral spirits and an old toothbrush.

Re: cleaning planes

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>Take it easy on the nickel plated areas. Use mineral spirits with just a Q-tip to avoid removing the nickel. That per Ernie Conover's very helpful Restoring Flea Market Planes video.

Wish I'd known about that before I took out after a Stanley 98 and 99--which are now completely modified, shall we say, from the original nickel plated condition. Oh well, now they look more like the L-N's.

Best, Ted

Re: cleaning planes

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>For an adjustable throat, you will want to take the pieces apart, and if they are rusted, clean it up with a bit of 400 grit sandpaper on a small stick. Then wax it and put it back together, will work like new. For cleaning planes, I have found Simple Green works great, although it will remove laquer finish. If you do use any abrasives on the planes, do so sparingly.

Re: cleaning planes

Alan Hamilton

>Heretic,

I don't know exactly what you have to remove, grease, grime, dirt, or rust, so I'll take a blind stab at it.

I clean all my tools with kerosene. Not only is it a good cleaner, not only does it free up frozen parts, not only is it dirt cheap--and just as common--it leaves a very thin, oily film that is a wonderful rust inhibiter. It has never affected any finish I've used.

Alan

Re: cleaning planes

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Guess I'll post the link to the article on tuning metal-bodied handplanes. Good info.

Re: cleaning planes

Todd O. Cronkhite Native of Maine

>Dean,

One word: Electrolysis. A.K.A. Zapping. I use it ALL THE TIME for bunches of rusty tools and works a'treat. Won't hurt jappaning unless there is rust beneath it. I follow the directions as per WOOD magazine, isssue # 63 (sept '93) page 74. If you, (or anybody else) would like a copy let me know via e-mail and I'll send you a photocopy.

With this process you'll be able to loosen screws that are so rusted in that you can't turn them, I even found and turned out set-screws that I didn't even know where there before I zapped the tool. After zapping I coat my tools with Butchers wax and so far they have not re-rusted like they did when I used 3 in 1 oil.

Todd O.

Re: cleaning planes

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>I've had good luck with paint thinner or simple green and a toothprush. Then on to plate glass and sandpaper for lapping, etc. Scotchbrite (grey0 will work on some of the more delicate parts and or finishes.

Re: cleaning planes

Francisco Luna

>There are two ways for clean a tool.

1. Collector tool cleaning.

2. Craftsman tool cleaning.

1. Let them clean the tool. Don't touch it.

2. Tools that are still giving utility can be cleaned with water and soap. water don't rust steel. Rust apear when a wet piece of steel are in contact with the air (Oxigen). So, That I do is just wash the palne with water and soap, and when the plane is clean, immediately I dry it with a paper towel. Ligh rust can be removed with 400 grit sand paper and water. Severe rust can be removed with electrolysis. A ligh tuning will remove rust on plane sole too (performed on 1/2 in. thick glass with silicon carbide sand paper). finaly, when the plane is completely dry, I protect the tool against rust with wax.

God Bless You !