OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

-590 mjprusik@e... 1970‑01‑01 Bio & Requests

Hello there...
	I am new to this Internet business, so pardon the absence of proper 
spelling inasmuch as the MOSAIC package I am using doens't have a Spell Checker.
	I stumbled across this listserv by invitation from Gary Roberts, an old 
acquaninatce from CompuServe and the Family Handyman and Handcrafts Woodworking 
forums.  But first, a few words about myself...
	I'm 35, single, live at home in central NJ with my Pop and have my shop 
in his basement.  By day, I am a practicing intellectural property (patent and 
trademark) lawyer and part owner of a local hardware store.  By night and on the
 
weekends (when I'm not working), I enjoy working in my basement shop.  		
Presently I am interested in "making room" in the basement and arranging the 
shop to suit some type of larger work on some furniture.  I have to build some 
office type stuff (office in the house too), and finding out yesterday my 
sister-in-law is pregnant and expecting in late Spetember; I have to build a 
cradle.
	The shop is equipped with the usual range of power tools.  But I find 
myself enjoying the look, feel and ease (no noise, excessive dust, etc.) of hand
 
tools, particularly old hand tools I pick up inexpesnively.  
	Frankly, it has become a "benign addiction" over the last two years.  
Fortunately, about once a year (on avaerage) I make a big "score" of usable hand
 
tools.  For instance, last year at this time a loacl boat builder was retiring 
and sold all of his planes at a yard sale.  I bought eleven planes in servicable
 
condition for <$65.00; including, compass plane, No. 3, 4, & 7 bench planes, No.
 
90 (nickel plated) rabbet plane, several block planes and a few "rabbet 
(fillister) planes".  Some recent scores also include a bunch (11) of wooden 
(coffin) block planes for $60.00, a VICTOR No. 4 (in cherry shape) for $5.00, a 
STANLEY No. 6 in original packaging for $25.00; and so on.
	In buying tools, I tend to be a user rather than a collector.  So I buy 
based upon  "user condition" rather than collector grading; choosing to bypass 
the "shelf" planes (and other tools) in favor of those that can be 
"rehabilitated".  Put another way, the price I am willing to pay is inversely 
proportional to how much time I'm willing to spend working on the thing to get 
it in usable shape.  Hey..any "old" plane for $1.00 (and I've bought 'em that 
cheap) is a bargain; even with 10 hours of work to flatten and sharpen the iron,
 
"adjust" the chip breaker, flatten the sole, file the lever cap and give the 
thing a "dusting off".
	Before participating I've monitored the messages here and have been 
quite impressed with the nature of the discussion and how the group treats 
newcomers.  I look forward to participating in dicsuissions with all of you and 
acquiring more overall knowldge about "old tools" in the process.
	With all of that said, I have three specific questions for general 
discussion and comment.  Since the 'Net doesn't "thread" messages like 
CompuServe, anyone responding might want to post the reply as a new message and 
we can all follow the "substantive" discussion.

First:	I have several wooden planes (block, bench and transational) and would 
like to know how to repair (close up the openings in the throat) them.  Any 
comments, advice or instruction would be helpful, and I would apprciate a 
reference source.  I have Dunbar's book on Restoring ...WW Tools, and do not 
find his instructions helpful.  My hesitation is I don't want to destroy a plane
 
which I am attemopting to repair by screwing up, although I do have a few 
"sacraficial lambs" to make an attempt before moving on to the treasured pieces.

Secondly:	I have a STANLEY No. 71 1/2 Router planbe I bought for $5.00 at 
a yard sale.  It onl has a 1/2" cutter, and that's it.  I'd be interested in 
obtaining the full cutter set and allied "fence parts".  But I need t know what 
the devil they are first!  Again, any help here is sincerely appreciated.

Thirdly:	WRT cleaning metal planes, I've had good luck with multiple 
swabs of VM&P (Varnish Makers & Painter's) Naptha  until the cloth comes away 
"clean".  Never had any problem with this solvent dissolving the "Japanning", 
and it's an aggressive yet sufficiently gentle solvent to "clean" "gunked" 
planes.

	Sorry if the appearence of this message is "formal".  But hey, after all 
I do WRITE for a living, and I guess your writing style is just what you manage 
to become accustomed to.  Don't be put off by the tone.  Gary Roberts will tell 
you I'm an "approachable" guy who likes to talk; especially about tools and 
woodworking !
	Looking forward to your replies...
	Matt Prusik
	

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Recent Bios FAQ