At 07:16 PM 10/14/05, Sanford Moss wrote:

>I gotta say that this thread sort of sets my teeth on edge.  The 
>idea of "tuning" a plane for a penultimate user sort of threatens 
>the potential integrity of collectible planes--that most collectors 
>would appreciate receiving in "as found" condition; or close to it.
>
>I don't quibble with guys who are too lazy and/or pressed for time, 
>and want to go right to work to buy an ordinary bench plane that has 
>been cleaned and honed; and pay a premium for that convenience.  But 
>this can lead to dealers taking a plane that has some collectible 
>feature (rarity, maker, etc) and subjecting it to unseemly (and 
>destructive) cleaning; especailly when we are talking about 
>rejapanning, sole flattening, side squaring, buffing, etc.

Well as one who has been known to "restore" a tool or 2 (hey I can't 
help it everybody wants 100 year chisels that are in perfect shape!), 
I do have to agree with Sandy on this one.

My goal has always been to restore the tool to a reasonable condition 
based on the use and the age.   Oh once in a while I'll go gung ho on 
a hammer (just was working on a late 18th C or early 19th C cobblers 
hammer today, and I am going gung ho on that one, cause if it don't 
sell at Browns it's going into my collection)    or something like 
that, but like with wooden planes, I'll clean them to the point of 
getting rid of the black hand gunk (sorry that ain't patina in my 
book) and clean the iron as needed, but I have seen (and had) planes 
that were sanded (ugh) and varnished (we are talking graduates of 
Poly U here) that have been pretty much destroyed in my book.

One of the flea market types that I used to buy a lot off of, was a 
big time painter of planes. Took me and another guy a couple of years 
to convince him that, yeah if you want to pretty up the common stuff 
go for it, just don't nutz with the better stuff.   Of course he got 
a buffer wheel a few years ago and EVERYTHING had to get buffed.  I 
got a big old slate hammer off of him that was pretty well pitted and 
even the PITS shined.  Thankfully he got bored that that.

I even have Belt Sander Bill to the point, where if he thinks it's 
something I might be interested in, not to nutz with it too bad (his 
new thing is painting hammer and axe heads blue...ugh..)

Yeah well...................................all in a day's tools I guess

Tony

                         Olde River Hard Goods
                             350 West Catawissa Street
                               Nesquehoning PA 18240
                                         570-669-9421
               The best old tool store in Pennsylvania!
                     http://www.oldetoolshop.com  

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