A Use for a No. 75

7/19/04, 12:20 AM #1

Bill Houghton
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A Use for a No. 75

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>After the recent bout of sarcastic comments about the No. 75 Stanley plane, I thought I should be fair to the Stanley Works and post the following.

I found a use for my 75 today. We're getting ready to have the house painted, so I'm busy doing some cleanup, starting with reglazing almost all the windows. I needed to replace two window panes, and, since our 110-year-old house has a lot of the old, uneven, historic-type glass, I wanted to save the glass for re-use if I could.

So tell me, historians here: has the formulation of window putty changed over the years, or does putty just keep getting harder over the decades? Some of the putty on one window was REALLY hard, and I was very reluctant to wail away at it for fear of breaking the glass (see above).

75 to the rescue! My No. 75 was very effective at wearing away the putty without danger to the glass, and tucked right into the corner of the glass rabbet. We've misunderstood Stanley's design goals for this tool: it's a putty plane.

Re: A Use for a No. 75

7/19/04, 1:39 AM #2

Jim in Burlington Ont.
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Location: Burlington Ontario

Re: A Use for a No. 75

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>While I'm no historian my house was built in the 1880's. Somewhere I read that it was made with linseed oil. The one great tip I saw on this old house was by the painter to paint right over it down to the glass to complete the seal and stop it from drying out. Fortunately you can still buy old glass for about $20 a pane or is that pain.

Re: A Use for a No. 75

7/19/04, 3:31 PM #3

Paul M. in San Diego
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Re: A Use for a No. 75

Paul M. in San Diego

>I was using my 75 just this weekend. I'm installing ceramic tile, and I first installed some cement board. I realized I needed to trim the edges of the cement board slightly (around an outside corner), so I brought out Mr. 75, and trimmed away. It works great at low-precision carpentry stuff.

Re: A Use for a No. 75

7/19/04, 11:29 PM #4

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA
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Warning...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>About to talk 'bout killin' some 'lectons... OK maybe not. Bill your windows sound a lot like mine. I've used the Pratzi (SP) puddy remover in a power drill with great results. Now you could put it into a brace, but you'd need a 3rd hand to hold the puddy chaser (remover).

Alwasy prime glazing puddy after installing or it WILL dryout and crack to the point of having to remove it and do it again. DAMHIKT

BTW (and more don't asks...)Use good a glazing compound (3M's) and thin it with a little miniral spirits before applying with a still puddy knife. Smooth wit a little more miniral spirits on your finger.

Re: A Use for a No. 75

7/19/04, 11:39 PM #5

Jack Guzman from Maine
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Re: A Use for a No. 75

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I always use heat when removing old dried putty.It makes the putty come apart and away from the wood.You have to be careful when you do this but it works every time.I find when scraping,chiseling or chipping,the wood usually gets removed in places because the putty holds onto it so well.I've had to clean up alot of old windows in my job repairing old houses.---Jack

- - -

I am a carpenter by trade.Also a handyman/Jack -of-all-trades.I work around my neighborhood mostly helping people keep up their old houses.I have a fairly large woodworking shop in my house where I work with both hand and power tools. At the moment I'm focusing on Windsor chairs building.I will build most anything if needed. I'm always learning,adapting,changing trying to broaden my woodworking skills.I work mostly with hand tools in my shop but will use power if it is a better way to get the desired result. My wife,Donna,and I live in the woods of Maine with our dogs,cats,and birds. We have 5 grown kids and six grandchildren. Woodcentral has been central to my growth as a woodworker. I pass through this place every day.

Re: A Use for a No. 75

7/20/04, 3:29 AM #6

Bill Houghton
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Re: Warning...

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>We're getting the house painted next week. I figure by then the putty will have "set up."

I've been using the Ace hardware brand, and it's a pretty decent putty - smooths well, easy to work, sets up more quickly than some I've used.

And, yes, Jim, I plan to insist that the painters paint that 1/8" onto the glass - I understand that's such a standard in the trade that there are scrapers designed to remove the excess paint from the window pane and leave 1/8" of paint on the pane.

Re: A Use for a No. 75

7/20/04, 3:45 AM #7

William Duffield on the Cohansey
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Re: It's not easy being green

William Duffield on the Cohansey

>We're gonna' have to ask Ellis for a separate forum, just for #75 afficionados. Such a scism has not occurred in the world of woodworking since the Galoots decided to abandon the Wreck.Norm and form OldTools. Do you think you can find room in your hearts for us deprived and depraved owners and users of the Kunz version? We really need some help.

A Use for a No. 75

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