Thread: Refinishing A Plane Tote and Knob

I've had good results with shellac and wax. Ubeaut brand of course. It gives a nice matt finish that feels good in the hand. I have one that I haven't touched yet that has several coats of high gloss poly on and it is not as nice to use. There is some good rosewood under there so I will get around to stripping it back some day.

Thanks for the info about shellac. I have been wanting to try using some for a while, but haven't been too confident.

This tote and knob are a perfect excuse to try it out. There is no need to use a filler at all on either piece, and I think no matter how poor my efforts at a first attempt, it can only be an improvement on what I had there originally

Is there a particular type of shellac, or mixture that is better suited to the wear and tear of a plane tote and knob?

Thanks,

Craig

I just use ordinary shellac. Keep putting coats on till you think it's enough. I usually do 5 or 6 but it drys in about 5 mins and takes no time at all.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

I just use ordinary shellac. Keep putting coats on till you think it's enough. I usually do 5 or 6 but it drys in about 5 mins and takes no time at all.

Any pictures of the results?

I repaired two totes recently, and have only applied quite a few coats of BLO.

The result feels very very nice in hand, but is matt and I was thinking of some wax to finish it off.

Thanks,
Paul

I'll duck out to the shed and take a couple. Give me a min or two

Not sure how much you can tell from the photos but the first three are shellac and Trad Wax. Sort of a shiny matt if that's possible. The last two are a heavily pollyed 4.5. The tote and knob look and feel quite plasticey. (how it was when I got it) I will sand that off and give them the shallac and wax treatment soon. I've got a few others to do as well.

Thanks for the pictures! You have definitely convinced me to use shellac
The shellac looks head and shoulders better than the poly finish.

I've got some flakes already, so tomorrow at some stage, I'll give it a go.

Craig

Just as an aside, the dodgy red varnish job could well have been the original finish. I've come across something similar and it had turned to powder under the gloss.
cheers,
Jim

Thanks Jim!

It may well have been. Does anyone here know what wood was used originally on the Australian made Stanley planes?

Thanks!

Craig

Here's another vote for shellac.

Toby