Tom Ellis writes:

Anyone have any idea how long it would take a plane treated like this
with raw oil to dry well enough to use?

Usual unsatisfactory answer is, "It all depends". Mostly, I think, on
the ambient humidity. It certainly dries more quickly if some mineral
turpentine in, say, 1 part of turps to 4 parts oil ( I seldom measure
these things with any accuracy) is added to the oil. If this is done it
should be dry in less than a week. If considerable oil sweats through
the wood (this rarely happens) it is cleaned off with turps and if the
oil disappears from the throat but leaves a slight residue the throat is
washed out with turps, leaving the throat dry. It is supposed that a
plane may become super-saturated with oil but the right balance seems to
be easily regained with use of turps. I most cases the oil just
disappears within a week.

Regards from Brisbane,

John Manners

----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellis, Thomas" 
To: "T&J Holloway" ; "oldtools"  Sent:
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 3:22 AM Subject: RE: [OldTools] finishes
for beech planes

Anyone have any idea how long it would take a plane treated like this
with raw oil to dry well enough to use?

Tom Ellis Dayton OH

> -----Original Message----- From: oldtools-bounces@r... [mailto:oldtools-
> bounces@r...] On Behalf Of T&J Holloway Sent: Tuesday, November 25,
> 2008 11:59 AM To: oldtools Subject: Re: [OldTools] finishes for
> beech planes
>
>
> "In the case of new planes it is a good plan to soak them well with
> linseed oil a short time before using, and then, by well rubbing the
> surfaces, a dull finish is obtain, and by following this with an
> occasional rub, the surfaces are kept clean and in good condition.
> Some people oil a new plane by removing the wedge and irons, stopping
> up the mouth on the face with putty, and then filling the mouth with
> linseed oil, leaving it until the oil exudes from the pores and the
> end of the stock; it is allowed to dry, and then polished with
> friction."
>
> Tom Holloway
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