Category Archives: Day to day

Stanley no.10 Rabbet plane rehab

24/7/2014

This ca. 1910 Stanley no.10 Rabbet plane arrived today after crossing the Equator and the Atlantic Ocean en route to the Land of The Brave. It is another of my acquisitions from Patrick Leach.

IMG_1804IMG_1805IMG_1806IMG_1807IMG_1808IMG_1809IMG_1810IMG_1811

Here you can see what the blade, chip breaker and lever cap looked like as I took the plane apart.

IMG_1825IMG_1826IMG_1827IMG_1828

I found ample evidence that the plane was used at some point between 1910 and 2014, as you can see.

IMG_1829IMG_1830IMG_1831IMG_1832IMG_1833IMG_1834IMG_1835

Initially I decided to only send these three parts (from my latest acquisition) for bead blasting, but then changed my mind and sent (second picture) all the blades, chip breakers, the #10’s frog and the #607’s main casting off too. (see posts entitled “Third acquisition from Patrick Leach” and “Stanley Bedrock no. 607 rehab”)

IMG_1844IMG_1863

As you can see here, the main casting lost some japanning during it’s 104 year tenure.

IMG_1846IMG_1847IMG_1848IMG_1849

During a very brief (less than 4 days) visit to Kenney at the Prop Shop it lost all of the rest of it’s japanning, rust and gunk.

IMG_0135IMG_0136

The lever cap were bead blasted and then plated with cadmium.

IMG_0145

The blade and chip breaker (left two) received the same treatment as above.

IMG_0142

 

I hope to get close to finishing this rehab over the next weekend. So hopefully will be able to post the rest of the drama next week.

3/8/2014

I first applied a coat of rust converter followed by an anti-rust undercoat (first picture). That was followed by three coats of black high gloss truck enamel.

IMG_1891IMG_1902

After removing the masking tape, it looked like this.

IMG_1932IMG_1933IMG_1934IMG_1935

Initially I I thought that the frog did not need the full treatment, but after try to clean it realised that it really should get the benefit of a bead-blast exfoliation. It is pictured with the #607 Bedrock (you will find a seperate post on this rehab) shortly after returning from the spa and after the rust converter, followed by anti-rust under coat and enamel paint.

IMG_1904IMG_1911IMG_1912IMG_1915IMG_1951IMG_1952IMG_1953

Starting to look like the business.

IMG_1961IMG_1962IMG_1963

Posing with the #607.

IMG_1964IMG_1965

 

10/8/2014

IMG_1977IMG_1978IMG_1979IMG_1980

Third acquisition from Patrick Leach

24/7/2014

My third shipment from Patrick arrived today. As you can see it contained a Stanley no.271 mini-router plane, a Stanley no.10 Rabbet plane (ca 1910) and a Stanley Bedrock no.607.

IMG_1799

I first decided not to do much more than sharpening the blade and the usual flattening of the key surfaces (of the #607), but after taking it apart my OCD kicked in. As you can see it is a plane in very good condition given it’s age (as far as I can deduct from “Patrick’s blood and gore” it should be ca 1912-1925 given the style of levercap), but I have a problem as you might know by now. Therefore the main casting were also sent off (a few days after the other bits) to Kenney at the Propshop for a beadblast-exfoliation.

IMG_1800IMG_1801IMG_1802

 

These babies were made between 1926-1973, but I have no idea when this particular specimen were fashioned. It is however the only member of the party that escaped my Rehab-compulsion.

IMG_1803

 

This is the #10 aged 113. It will receive the full wroth of my compulsive rehab-therapy.

IMG_1804IMG_1805IMG_1806IMG_1807IMG_1808IMG_1810IMG_1847IMG_1848

 

 

Festool TS55 issue

28/6/2014

I use the Festool TS55 with the basic unit of the CMS (Compact Module System) as a table saw. One problem I seem to have on a fairly regular basis is pictured below. The sawdust does not clear adequately necessitating a proper clean, which takes up time that I would rather spend working wood. I am not using it with a dust collection system as I cannot justify the expense yet, so I guess that might be part of the problem. I am very happy in every other way with all the Festools I own. This is really the only problem I’ve come across.

IMG_1428IMG_1429IMG_1430IMG_1431IMG_1432IMG_1433

Level playing field

23/6/2014

On Sunday I finally made the effort to set up my radial arm saw and my planer (both DeWalt but from different eras) on the red steel table (first photo). About eight weeks ago I took the radial arm saw off it’s custom steel table and bought a new cross cut blade for it. I decided to move it to the red steel table to create more space for my new 18th century workbench that I am in the process of building. It used to reside next to the red steel rack that house all my offcuts (second photo).

IMG_1393IMG_9582

In order for these two power tools to be functioning next to each other I had to get them on the same plane. That meant that I had to lift the planer.

IMG_1394IMG_1395IMG_1397

Here you can see how the radial arm saw now acts as an out-feed table for the planer and vice versa. It took ages, fiddling around with different strips of wood to line the two surfaces up perfectly.

IMG_1398IMG_1399IMG_1404IMG_1405

I also flipped the old chip board over that did duty as the radial arm saw table and made a new fence. Once I managed to set the saw up perfectly square in the two important dimensions, I cut a new zero clearance groove through the fence.

IMG_1400IMG_1401IMG_1402IMG_1403

… and finally I cleaned the track in which the saw runs, which had heaps of antediluvian grease- sawdust-crap obstructing the saw’s path. A fresh serving of grease got it back to it’s former self.

IMG_1406IMG_1407

Second acquisition from Patrick Leach

19/6/2014

My second (of hopefully many more) shipments from Patrick Leach arrived yesterday. It reached these shores in perfect condition after a two week journey and a further week of faffing around at Namibia’s customs.

June 2014 US postal

 

A group photo.

IMG_0107IMG_0108IMG_0109

This is a Buck Brothers drawknife made around the turn of the previous century by this famous company. It is an absolute gem, they simply do not make tools like this anymore.

IMG_0110IMG_0117IMG_0119

A #71 open throat Stanley router plane with three different blades, in original box and hardly ever used condition.

IMG_0111IMG_0112IMG_0113IMG_0114IMG_0115IMG_0116

A #923 Stanley 10″ brace in perfect condition and no obvious signs of being used much at all. Again, you simply can not buy anything approaching this quality made more recently.

IMG_0120IMG_0121IMG_0122IMG_0124

These are two Sorby (Sheffield made) pairing chisels Patrick acquired in England recently and shipped it to the USA, only for the edge tools to extradite themselves to Namibia after a very brief visit. There are a ¾” and a 1″, both in as new condition with the usual boxwood handles.

IMG_0129IMG_0125IMG_0126IMG_0127IMG_0128IMG_0130IMG_0131

Shop High Stool facelift

22/4/2014

In order to provide a brief hiatus in my bench building activities I decided that it is time to update the shop high stool I originally built back in 2000. You will notice that it was made out of the same Swarthout strips I used for the Darwinian Sawhorses. After almost ten years in storage it did not look particularly elegant.

IMG_0330

I decided to rip the fabric off and to replace it with Hyena leather. Or at least that is what I think it is as it was written on the back of the piece I bought from Nakara.

IMG_0331IMG_0332IMG_0333

It is a very sturdy and thick leather with a colour that is pleasing to the eye.

IMG_0334IMG_0335

The staple gun did a sterling job to fix it. As you can see I did not spend too much effort to get it perfect as it is only a shop workhorse. You will also notice that I reinforced the structure with bits of scrap pine that was lying around.

IMG_0336IMG_0337IMG_0338

Didi’s Projects

3/2013

My son Didi (short for Didier) is slowly starting to develop an interest in what is going on in the shop. I thought I should start documenting his progress. Here you can see him building a wild bird feeder.

IMG_5571IMG_5572IMG_5575IMG_5577IMG_5579IMG_5580IMG_5582IMG_5583IMG_5585IMG_5593IMG_5595

31/3/2014

He did the bulk of the work to glue-up and turn his first tool in the form of this beautiful Witpeer mallet.

IMG_0069IMG_0070IMG_0071IMG_0072

 

IMG_0418IMG_0419IMG_0420IMG_0421IMG_0422IMG_0423IMG_0425

IMG_0427IMG_0428IMG_0429

 

Chisel storage

17/3/2014

On Saturday I briefly interrupted my bench-building-activities in order to ensure that my precious new Lie-Nielsen bevel-edge chisels receive a warm welcome and safe haven right from the start of our (hopefully) long and prosperous relationship. I ordered these chisels back in November 2013, but the tool works at Lie-Nielsen were out of stock and in the process of crafting new ones. As far as what I can gather they had a few hiccups in this process, which meant that the chisels only arrived on 10/3/2014. The guys and gals at Lie-Nielsen leave no stone unturned when it comes to their commitment to ensure the absolute highest quality, which was again quite obvious when I unpacked these heirlooms.

IMG_9974IMG_9975IMG_9976IMG_9982IMG_9983IMG_9984IMG_9985IMG_9990

An example of the attention to detail is how the backs of these chisels have been perfectly flattened by hand honing. This means that you have the absolute minimum preparation honing to do before you go mental with it on a piece of timber.

IMG_9987IMG_9988

Just look at these stunning Hornbeam handles. I plan to turn my own longer handles for when I am using the chisels for paring.

IMG_9989

Here you can see how I very quickly built a rudimentary chisel dwelling from a piece of scrap Swarthout. Swarthout (Acacia melanoxylon and known as Australian Blackwood, Sally Wattle or Tasmanian Blackwood) originates from Australia (surprisingly) as a species, but this particular piece is South African by birth as it spent many years enjoying the tranquility of the rain forests of the Garden Route.

IMG_9993IMG_9994IMG_9995IMG_9996IMG_9997IMG_9998

I decided that the quickest way to keep the chisels sitting stable and upright (as the three smallest chisels are top heavy and therefore tends to attempt acrobatics in it’s dwelling) was to whack dowels through the living room.

IMG_9999IMG_0001IMG_0002

Together with the dowels, a small notch on the inside of the side walls where each chisel’s socket rests, does a great job of keeping each chisel proud and upright.

IMG_0003IMG_0005IMG_0004

 

At this stage I left the dwelling as is, but might add a base once my bench is finished, because it might be useful to grab the who set and stick it on the bench next to you while doing dovetails or mortises. For now it will be supported by two storage containers on either side of it in my tool rack.

 

IMG_0109IMG_0110

Egg beater drill rehab

2/12/2013 – We had our staff’s end of year function on 28/11/2013 at the best Coffee Shop/Pizzeria  in Namibia. It is a wonderfully ambient establishment by the name of La Brocante. What makes it even better is the fact that they also have a treasure cove of old furniture, tools and just about everything else that you could wish for in a historic hotel dining room next to the pizzeria. I found a few old tools in need of basic rehab, one of which was this old egg beater drill. It was still in perfect working order, but needed new handles and knobs.

In the picture below you can see how I turned the three parts needed out of a single piece of leftover beech.

IMG_8650

Here it is sporting it’s new limbs.

IMG_8651IMG_8652

 

The final product after a light coat of tung oil.

 

IMG_8653IMG_8656

Shop made winkelhaak

2/12/2013 – So what is a Winkelhaak? It is Afrikaans for trisquare.

I have been unable to buy a small trisquare in the local market, despite trying for more than 18 months. So 10 days ago I decided to make a few from wood and a couple using a combination of wood and brass. They are so straight forward to make that I will not insult your intelligence by showing the steps involved. In the picture below you can see the collection of scrap pieces of wood I chose from to make them.

IMG_8641

Here you have the all-wood set. The two smaller ones have Kershout blades and Assegaai handles. The alpha-square has a Olienhout handle and Assegaai blade.

IMG_8654IMG_8655

 

The brass-wood squares are still in production. I will add pictures in due course.

9/12/2013 – And here it is, the first of two, the other one will have to wait until next year. It has a Stinkhout handle and a 6 mm thick brass blade.

IMG_8684IMG_8685IMG_8686