Buying planes on eBay #2
Here are my initial conclusions on the 1st plane purchase in the plane buying sessions
Just to keep everyone on track, here are my findings with plane #1:
1:
It was exceptionally well packaged with more bubbles inside the cardboard box than my grandsons bubble bath. The outside wrapper had a lovely symmetry of foam ripples not unlike the adhesive that hooks ceramic tile to the bathroom wall.
2:
The overall plane was rough looking but all was in tact. I like the feel of the plane because it feels like the Stanley I have been shoving back and forth over boards for the past 40+ years.
3:
Consistent with many older craftsman-owned planes, the primary bevel was a radical 18-degrees. I have no problem with that and I can explain why if anyone cares to know.
4:
There was a secondary bevel but ‘it wasn’t a micro-bevel. No problem with that either. Again, explain why if anyone cares to know.
5:
The secondary non-micro bevel was a massive 45-degrees and herein lies a real problem. Although the secondary bevel was nicely ground it rendered the plane all but useless because the bedded angle of frog presents the iron at 45-degrees plus or minus a tad. That means that the whole bevel of the iron rides the wood being planed. Even one degree less would make no difference because the common edge between the two planes creating the edge fractures marginally in the sharpening process and under a microscope this edge is actually ever so minutely rounded so the bevel must have bevel-relief to have contact with the wood so as to cut. 25-30 degrees is the proven ideal in general.
6:
Surface rust was quickly removed with various grit levels of abrasive paper.
Dear Paul,
I´m a new Portuguese follower of your work. Let me, first of all, congratulate you for all the content in blog and youtube.
I recently bought a Stanley Bailey plane (n.º 4) and I’m having a hard time restoring the lever cap. It came in bad condition and I can not give it a beautiful appearance. I already tried sandpaper but I did not succeed. I wanted it to stay with a simple smooth finish, without the chips. Can you help me?
Photos:
https://postimg.org/image/ufyz2c0ad
https://postimg.org/image/y0uulk4tx
I have looked at your blog entries and did not find one that answered that question (at least by the titles).
Thank you very much.
Pedro
This is caused by rust underneath the nickel plating, a common problem with any plating. There are two options usually, one is to remove the nickel by abrading all or part of it or to remove and then have it nickel plated again. One is easy the other something you will need to have done if indeed you can find someone to do it. The third option is to find another lever cap in better condition on ebay.
i do care to know why the iron had bevels of many facets. Of course i am making my way through your blog from the beginning so i may stumble upon it in due time.