Finish for handplane w/ Lignum sole?

Re: Finish for handplane w/ Lignum sole?

ThomD

>The two lignum soled planes I have, have laquer on the sides, and no finish on the soles. If one finishes the soles there isn't any point using lignum, as you say. I'm sure on could come up with a point... Lower CG and bigger sweat spot?

The one problem one can run into is that if one used something like epoxy to adhere the lignum, it will act as a vapour barier and warping can result. So I would seal the top wood as well as you can. I have only had two planes out of tons that warped so I don't think it is likely.

Just wax

Jim in Burlington On

>I wouldn't oil that wood it really doesn't soak it in and it ends up making a soft greasy finish. Wax would do it for me.

Re: Just wax

ThomD

>Wax is good. A lot of my planes get some wax, it lasts a long time. I have some well used maple planes than have score lines on the sole, but basicaly look new, and the initial wax coat is still there. I have white oak planes with nothing on the sole. When turning a little dab of bees wax will stop a turning from smoking that would smoke pretty quickly even with a high tech silicone paste, that stuff lasts and lasts. Overall, why bother with lignum if your just going to wax it anyway? They used it for drive bearing in ships. I don't even bother with lignum anyway, don't see the point. But one good thing on a finish plane is no finish means no contamination problem.

Re: Finish for handplane w/ Lignum sole?

ray k

>thanks for the suggestions. I kind of figured it'd be best to leave the lignum sole alone. But I still want the jatoba and walnut bodies to have an oil finish to them. I'm thinking I'll tape off the lignum sole and then only oil up the walnut and jatoba. I'm thinking it might be overkill, but I'll wait a week after I oil up the plane before flattening the sole--just in case the oil causes some movement. Making your own tools really is a whole lot of fun!

Thanks again.

Re: Just wax

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>The main reason for using lignum vitae on any plane is that it wears much better than other woods. The plane will have a tight mouth for a much longer period of time. If you were to build planes simply for a showcase, there would be no reason to use woods that wear well. If you use the planes, it is probably beneficial to use wood that will wear well for the sole.