sharpening wooden moulding planes

[digitalbot]

I have come by an old box of wooden moulding planes that have seen better days and they all need cleaning, de-rusting and sharpening. In short, how do I go about it? Is it a case of an expensive set of slipstones and profiled leather honing wheels? Are there any another methods?
All advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KevM]

I've not seen it posted in a while, so here's the classic advice: http://pegsandtails.wordpress.com/2009/ ... ing-plane/

 

[Racers]

The most useful thing I have found is a set of cheap diamond needle files, just right for getting the blade profile right before honing.
I use a couple of these http://www.axminster.co.uk/traditional- ... lip-stones for a final sharpen after you get the profile right, a 1000 and 4000 grit.

Pete

 

[AndyT]

For a serious answer, Pete's advice is sound. The important aspects of sharpening is that the profile should match the shape of the sole when a consistent amount of blade is showing across the whole width, and that each facet of the shape needs to be relieved behind the cutting edge.

Diamond files are handy; one or two slipstones are things you should have any way. You can improvise with fine abrasive papers stuck on sticks and dowels - for larger sizes of hollow, a selection of plumbing offcuts are good shapes to wrap the paper round.

For other aspects such as cleaning the wood, here are some answers I prepared earlier

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/old-tool-cleaning-part-1-use-of-wax-t64195.html

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/old-tool-cleaning-part-2-rust-removal-with-abrasives-t64233.html

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/old-tool-cleaning-part-3-paint-removal-with-turps-t64290.html

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums...t-4-general-cleaning-with-reviver-t64945.html