These planes any good?

[DennisCA]

I've been looking for a tongue and groove set for a while. Came across these and they look to be in fine condition, but I dunno if the price is good or not. I might be allowing the plane set to be poached by linking it here but if its on ebay it's a given it will be found by someone:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-of-wooden- ... SwbYZXXpDO

And does 3/8" refer to the size of the groove?

 

[AndyT]

They do look like a pair that have stayed together ( same maker and owner) and look from the photos as if they have not been neglected.
One wedge has definitely been swapped - the straight across line shows it has been pinched from a dado plane, so might need adjusting or replacing.

The 3/8" would be the thickness of wood it is best for, so expect a 1/8 wide tongue and groove, centred over 3/8".

 

[DennisCA]

Got the planes last night, they do seem to be used for 3/8" wide boards and make a 1/8" groove and tongue. I have a little trouble with getting the wedge to hold them. I noticed the planes have a finish on them, not an oil or wax finish but some kinda varnish, makes them slippery. I wonder if this was original or added on, might also be why it's somewhat problematic to get the irons to hold. I personally doubt they where originally varnished since it looks to be totally new and not worn.

 

[AndyT]

The finish looks like old linseed oil in the pictures. There may be some wax as well, added by a collector. You could try some meths on a rag to remove any wax.

You may have to adjust or re-make the swapped out wedge. Some people say that the back of the wedge should be slightly concave so it presses hardest at top and bottom of the iron. Only a very slight concavity, not visible in use.

 

[DennisCA]

I'm having a hard time believing it could be wax & oil... I've used oil & wax finish and this is nothing like anything I've achieved with said finishes. Reminds me of polyurethane or acrylic.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I picked up one of my (metal) planes that I've owned for nearly fifty years yesterday -its beech handle has only ever been soaked/coated in linseed (I've not distinguished between raw and boiled for this purpose) since I stripped the original finish when new and if I didn't know better I would swear it had been polyurethaned.

 

[DennisCA]

That's the kind of finish I'd like to try and achieve with oil finished but I never achieve it. I have to go shellac or wipe on poly/varnish to get there.

 

[AndyT]

Dennis - you just need to wait for a hundred years or so!

 

[ED65]

That's the kind of finish I'd like to try and achieve with oil finished but I never achieve it. I have to go shellac or wipe on poly/varnish to get there.

Which woods, how many coats?

Personally I think a pure oil finish is overrated, and it takes far too long anyway. Personally I CBA, a film finish gets you there faster (actually gets you to a better surface faster) and is a better finish for wood in nearly every respect anyway.

Dennis - you just need to wait for a hundred years or so!

I'd say there's every chance that those have wax on them. I know if I wax a dull old plane it immediately gets a lovely fine surface gloss, one that you wouldn't get by wiping in a fresh coat of linseed oil.