Don't you just love this....

Me too...

Sandor in Boyds, MD

>I have had this problem more than once. Great news is that the japanning is so freeking durable that you may be able to use paint stripper and remove the last users improvements which is most likely oil enamel or spray paint, not asphaltum.

I used the citrus strip and it didn't seem to harm the jappanning. YMMV but as a user could it hurt?

Re: Don't you just love this....

Tom MacGregor, Vermont

>I got an early 101 described as "Good original condition" on the 'bay only to discover that it had about 10% japan and the rest was colored with black marker. It leaves a very characteristic look on cast iron but didn't show in the photo. Fortunately the vendor took returns and I was "only" out shipping - both ways. I've gotten my finest planes from a local dealer*. It was worth a few extra bucks to make a good face to face deal.

*Walt Q. please note this is NOT a dis on you or that nice VB 903 you sold me!

Re: Don't you just love this....

Bob Hackett

>Doug,

Here`s where the going gets rough.

Seeing as how this is a "user" why not consider just removing all the old japaning and redo it all?

Think about it for a minute,that coating was there to keep the rust at bay.Now you`ve taken the patches off and what are you going to do to keep the bare areas from rusting?

Why spotty rust and partial japaning are preferable on a collector`s piece I can begin to understand but it just doesn`t make sense to let a user type plane go down the road to ruin.I assume the factory grind lines on the sole and frog will be sacred too so no fettling or lapping of the sole allowed.Likewise don`t dare sharpen that iron even once(for those who don`t recognize it,this is sarcasm).

The whole point of having an old tool put back to use is to make it as useable as possible for both yourself and hopefully those who come after you.Part of being a good caretaker(isn`t that what we really are?) of these tools is to keep them free of rust and other damaging conditions so they can be passed on.

If the poor patch job offends you I say strip it down and make do as good a job of bringing it back as possible.The old type of asphalt coating used for japaning is still available from more than one supplier(check the archives and there`s at least one article about this).My opinion is that that `s the way to go rather that leave the tool open to further damage due to rust.

Mainely,Bob-Who can hear the mob of collecters with torches outside the door.

Re: Me too...

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>I've had good results using acetone. The going is a little slower, but it doesn't remove the japanning

Bob's rabbet

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>Bob, I've been looking at alot of woodies lately and wanted to let you know that i think that it's possible that you didn't really lose your "knickers" (pun intended). Your missing nickers could be missing (wooden) depth stops.

Sorta like this one

Re: Bob's rabbet

Bob Hackett

>Actually I think the plane might have been modified at some point.It looks like the jack rabbet in the original post but on closer inspection it may be that someone modified it from the original side cutting irons that were unwedged to a a wedged configuation.The reason I say that is because the irons/knickers look to be 3/8" wide by the scribe lines and then the recess tapers from the sole up and forward from there to accomodate the wedges.

Don`t know if I`m describing this correctly.I need to get Dr.Death over to take a pic of the plane.Maybe this weekend.

I also plan to stop back where I picked this plane up and get the matched set of T&G planes plus the 2 mismatched H&R`s.He said he`d take $15 for them all.

Mainely,Bob