Thread: Inherited planes

For a start I see nothing in that lot that can not be brought back to usable condition the moulding cutters are rare as hens teeth, really nice collection any serious wood worker would be very happy to have that lot

Holy smokes! I reckon that's what you'd call an embarrassment of riches, Hpf!

Some potentially good tools in that lot, and you've certainly got one or two spares to pass on to sons (or daughters?)!

The chip out of your #3 is behind the blade, so likely just a cosmetic blemish as long as the sidewall isn't cracked. Does make one wonder how it could've happened, but you do see some strange 'injuries' to tools...

Cheers,

Thanks Ian, there are some serious repairs and I can only suspect that my grandfather's last resort was to scrap literally anything. Trust me, his habits passed on to both my father and uncle!

Originally Posted by Huon pine fan

...... I can only suspect that my grandfather's last resort was to scrap literally anything. Trust me, his habits passed on to both my father and uncle!...

Some of the tools do look as if their former life has been hard, but that's par for the course, judging by old woodies, in particular, that have come my way. Both blades & bodies of many wooden planes seem to have been treated as 'consumables' with blade adjustment done using whatever walloping tool was within arm's reach. Just get the thing back to work asap, I suppose. The heavily mushroomed strike buttons and splits in your lot are not atypical. Blades were often honed on very dished stones, too, so prepare yourself for a goodly dose of RSI bringing that many blades back to life. Flattening badly-rounded plane blades & chisels is one of my least-enjoyed activities, but you know the thing is never going to work well unless you get the blade in order, so it has to be done. I put the worst ones aside & do a bit of work on them on rainy afternoons when I feel semi brain-dead & not wanting to do anything more demanding than rubbing blades back & forth over a stone.

To those of us with plenty of time & opportunity to fuss over our tools, it seems like sacrilege to 'mistreat' them - they wouldn't have been cheap by the economics of the day, either. However, something you can be very grateful for is that so many of the bits that typically disappear, like the fences & fence-rods for the 78s, the cutters & various bits for the 050 & 55, seem to be all there. That's amazing in itself to me - some of my rellies would have managed to disperse all those little bits over several acres, and you would have been fortunate indeed to have found a quarter of them!

Whatever, I reckon you've got enough there to occupy many a rainy weekend afternoon, for some time to come!
Cheers,

Certainly a collection to be proud of.

As someone who started their own journey through the inheritance of their grandfather's woodworking tools, I found those long hours restoring the tools aren't nearly as trying when you've got that family connection. I consider the memories those tools have drawn to mind while working on projects just as valuable as the project itself.

Regards,

Denim

Originally Posted by Denim

As someone who started their own journey through the inheritance of their grandfather's woodworking tools, I found those long hours restoring the tools aren't nearly as trying when you've got that family connection. I consider the memories those tools have drawn to mind while working on projects just as valuable as the project itself.

Regards,

Denim

Thanks Denim, you have hit the nail on the head. Whilst I am yet to use any of the planes I have had the opportunity to use some of his other tools and it's hard to explain the satisfaction that I get. The planes will be done slowly and I fully expect it to be another equally satisfying project.

Hpf

Well rescued. As the others have said, a very nice "starter" collection and China's observation is noteworthy. However, it makes me think that this is not the total extent of the collection. Woodworkers that have these tools would have quite a few other little trinkets to accompany them. If this is the case, perhaps you would like to share those too.

Regards
Paul

You are right Bushmiller, there are a 'few' others. My grandfather was a shipwright so plenty of caulking tools, adzes, handsaws and so on not to mention other hand tools. I will take some more photos this weekend and share them on the forum

Hi Bushmiller, as promised, I took some photos to share. Here are the ones of caulking gear

Bushmiller, some more for you

Hpf

Very nice collection of tools and thanks for sharing. The adzes are a treat. The last pic shows an interesting back saw with a lambs tongue handle, but I can't see it clearly. Could you give some more information or a close up pic of the medallion and the name on the back?

Regards
Paul


Edit: Hmmm. The last pic is now the first )

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Hpf

Very nice collection of tools and thanks for sharing. The adzes are a treat. The last pic shows an interesting back saw with a lambs tongue handle.

Yes, nice collection. The adzes and the saw were stand-out's for me also.

I have a question also about photo number 6; The 'T' piece tools (dowels with handles for a basic explanation). What are they and what are they used for?

Thanks.

Denim.

Here are most of the handsaws and numerous long augers bits. Speaking of saws, my brother has our grandfathers large, old Wolfenden bandsaw, belt drive from memory. We would like to see this go to a good home, I will take some photos when I get the chance and post them

Then there are the 'supplies'. More saw files than I will use in my lifetime and then my sons when they inherit my stuff! As you can see, enough brass screws, copper nails and roves, copper tacks and brass and copper bolts and spikes to build a boat. By the way they were not sorted like this, that represents quite a few hours work. I have kgs of used brass screws that I will be taking to scrap metal. On top of this were dozens and dozens of old tobacco tins with assorted nails, screws, etc