Raised from the dead. (before)

Re: Raised from the dead. (after)

Wayne Anderson

>Here it is now...

Re: Raised from the dead.

Derek Cohen (in Perth Australia)

>Gee Wayne, you show promise. If you want I can help you practise some more .. heh, heh!

The woodwork is just beautiful, as always, but my question relates to the metalwork (since I have the same issue with which I suspect you also had to deal, and an identical plane). In the "before" pic the rivets are clearly visible. In the "after" pic they have disappeared. So I can see that you filed them flush with the body. I, too, prefer this look, but the question is whether this is "right" or "wrong" with respect to the maker's intention, the history of the plane, etc.

Can you comment?

Many thanks.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Raised from the dead. (after)

les winter

>Nicely done.

I have an A5 (similar to yours but with a D handle) that I would like to work on.

Did you remove the top lever cap? If so, how did you do it?

thanks

Les

Re: Raised from the dead.

Wayne Anderson

>We're talking about a common Norris plane, not a Chelor, or a piece of Federal furniture. I had a feeling that there might be some hand wringing over the restoration. Norris planes are common and were mass-produced, and my money goes with T. Norris approving, if he wasn't dead. Doubt that he would approve of the plane in its former condition though. I know that if someone let one of *my* planes get into such deplorable condition, I would be fully in favor of a good rehab. -Wayne

Re: Raised from the dead.

Todd Hughes

>I think you did a great job! Took a very rough tool and turned it into a nice one that still looks believable. I esp. like the fact that it looks like you didn't try to make it look bright and shiny and "New".....To my way of thinking this is what tool restoration should be about .....Todd

Re: Raised from the dead. (after)

Ernie Miller

>Looks realy nice. you didn't pollish the brass? or pimp it out or any thing. What is the going price for rose wood these days? I was at an auction last night and bought some rose wood burl prtty good size chunks. Lots of other less interesting burl also a whole pallet full for $30.

Re: Raised from the dead.

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>Nice re-hab job Wayne. Nothing like bring one back to life eh?

You say that Norris planes are common? Not to me, must be in the U.K..

Got to wonder why you changed the blade. Was the original all used up? Not sure if you changed the chipbreaker as well.

I wondered about the disappearing rivets as well, and wondered if this was proper, but as you say I'm sure it would make Mr. Norris happy to see his plane brought back from such a deplorable condition.

I'm not a big fan of all these old vehicles that have been turned into "hip-hop" machines, but than again I'd rather see them that way than rotting away in a junkyard, or going thru the crusher.

Re: Raised from the dead. (after)

Wayne Anderson

>Real Brazilian rosewood is very scarce due to the ban on harvesting. If you can find it, it can go for $135/board foot, or more. Big hunks that can be bookmatched and sold to luthiers for guitar backs and such, can go much higher. -Wayne

Re: Raised from the dead. (before)

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Beautiful job, Wayne. Did you replace the wood behind the blade or just clean and smooth the old piece?

Pam

Re: Raised from the dead.

Wayne Anderson

>Norris' are *relatively* common. Any tool catalog generally has several models for sale in it.

The rivets are still there, as are the dovetails. I replaced the rivets (pins) and lightly resurfaced the sides after piening the pins. The outlines will show up again very soon, as will the dovetails. In a few years, it will look like it should. Only a trained eye will know it has been reconditioned. -wayne

Re: Raised from the dead. (before)

Wayne Anderson

>Pam,

Both pieces have been totally replaced from the same block of Brazilian. The grain matches. The funny looking dark spots on the wood is just a dark streak that ran through the block. It looks like a patch, but it's not. -Wayne

Re: Raised from the dead. (after)

Joel

>Nice job!

The bun is a little fatter than the original would be but for those curious the originals would not have had significantly noticable rivits.

What happened to the plane Wayne started with is a lot of water and wood rot and rust. The rot took away the front bun and corrumpted the rear infill. THe sides completely rusted out and in the process of getting rid of the rust the rivits became prominent. How wide is the iron?

Re: Raised from the dead. (after)

Wayne Anderson

>Joel,

The iron is 2". The one that came with the plane was all used up, and may have been replaced. It is stamped: Coloun & Cadman, Cast Steel, Sheffield. I reused the cap iron.

The plane was in deplorable condition. It had been in that condition for a while. The sides of the rear infill were worn down and recessed, giving it a look like it had been sandblasted. I believe that's from handling after surface oxidation had occured.

The front infill condition can be seen in the photo. My guess is, the thing had either been dropped too many times, or someone used a mallet one too many times on the wood to adjust it...ok for a beech woodie, but not for a rosewood infill plane.

I removed the four pins and the pin for the lever cap, and cleaned out the shell, removing all the crud and loose rust. Then I coated the inside with a very light coat of Ballistol to preserve it before replacing the infill.

I know the front infill is maybe an eighth of an inch too high, but I didn't want to remove all the black grain. It matches the rear infill. ;^}

-wayne

Re: Raised from the dead.

Dan Moening in foggy Sacramento.

>Are the rivits the only things holding the front bun in place?

I seems to my untrained eye that the wood would eventually become loose in place over time. Besides a very snug fit and "held-in-place" riviting, what prevents the bun from "wiggling"?

Apparently this system works because I don't recall hearing of anyone using *gasp* epoxy.

It is a very nice rehabilitation job.

~Dan.

Wow

Jim in Burlington On

>I often oogle the beat up ones on e-bay thinking how much would it cost for a great piece of lumber to replace broken stuff. After pricing out chunks at Exotic woods somewhere in the range of 100-150. Figured I'm just going to make one at Shepherd tool works soon! Thanks for sharing great job.

Lazarus Speaks ;^)

Jim O'Brien

>Hello Everyone,

I am the beneficiary of Wayne's stunning, yet understated work on the Norris restoration. I have admired Wayne's work for some time and had the opportunity to use one of his originals briefly at the St Charles MWTCA meet back in October. You really have to hold one in your hands and take a few shavings to appreciate how good they are.

I bought the plane from an older fellow who had finally decided that he just wasn't going to get around to fixing it up. I'm sure he would be pleased with the results too.

I had good intentions, but feared the project might migrate to the bottom of my to-do list as well. I was happy to let Wayne take on the job. Although I don't have the plane back yet, I am as impressed by the photos as everyone else is. My dear one will not believe it when she sees the transformation.

I am especially happy that it was restored to working condition, rather than NIB. This *is* an artifact, a document if you will, but it is now a tool with a lot more miles left on it thanks to Wayne.

I plan to use it and let it inspire me to do better work. He left some of the fettling to me. Here's hoping I'm up to the task.

Best wishes to all,

Jim O'Brien

Well done Wayne!

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>You are truly an infill master!