Two more in the garage

[Cochese]

My latest additions arrived ahead of schedule today, a Groz #3 and #4. They've joined the Groz #5 and block plane, plus a Stanley...something. It's a bit of an odd duck, but it does the job.

I'm starting to get into doing more hand work, and I hope these clean up well. I'm on the hunt for a jointer plane, but a couple antiques stores and a flea market have not yielded anything. May have to grudgingly rejoin ebay.

If I get these cleaned up tomorrow I'll get a family portrait. I get a case for these and my saws done, it will be about time for the big boy project - the Holtzapffel.

[dbhost]

I haven't been that interested in a #3, but I have the low angle block plane, as well as #s 4 through 7 from Groz. They get a lot of knocking from the Veritas or nothing types, and old iron fans don't care much for them... But considering the availability of early Stanley / Bailey or Record planes around here... I am grateful for the ones I have. Not impressed with the blades as they dull pretty easy / are pretty soft. Then again so are older Stanleys... If you want to upgrade the chip breakers and blades, Lee Valley sells LN replacements for these planes. Cost as much as the planes do on sale, but I am willing to give it a try. My #5 is the one that needs it most...

[vaking]

I do not have #3 in my collection but I do have a #33 from HF. That #33 is a little smaller than a regular #3 but it functions similarly and many consider it more comfortable. For $10 it is well worth it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/no-33-b...ane-97544.html

[Cochese]

There really isn't a lot of difference between the #3 & #4. 1/2" length, blade is slightly wider. That's pretty much it. But it was cheap, and I wouldn't have another shot to buy it, so it's here.

That #33 looks nearly identical to my Stanley. I've been scouring eBay for #6-#8 planes.

[Cochese]

I've come to discover that SB4 really is the #33, or vice versa. I have plastic handle and tote on the Stanley, but that's about it.

Got them cleaned up today, but not really tuned up. Put a slight sharpening on the #4, as it would cut nothing out of the box, but I'm presently planning on investing in the scary sharp method. Need to clean up the shop a bit and figure out where I'll be storing the glass so that it won't break. I need to do it on all of them, and before I run into a project that requires accuracy.

I've seen someone also use a belt sander to flatten a sole. Hmm...

Here's a family portrait so far. Sorry about the white balance. Entrance to the shop really throws it out of whack.

[LCHIEN]

helps us plane neophytes, what are the numbers, left to right?

[Cochese]

5, 4, 3, "33" , block. Not a whole lot of difference between the middle three.

[gsmittle]

Have you thought about using a granite slab instead of glass? IIRC, they run about $25 or so at Woodcraft. I've been using one for years and really like it. Now if I could only sharpen better…

The advantage of the granite is that it's not as easy to break as plate glass, but you don't want to drop it on your foot. DAMHIKT…

g.

[Cochese]

I decided to try an idea I saw somewhere, and use neither granite nor glass, but tile. I found two 12x12 black granite tiles at HD, and they seemed really flat. I didn't have a known straightedge to check, but when I head out to my shop I'll be able to verify it. If not, back they go. But the two tiles were $7 OTD.

Then I stopped at Advance and picked up a 9x11 assortment pack of Imperial Wetordry paper (220, 400, 800, 1000), and a pack of 3-2/3x9 2000. This was about $12, I think. I have some 3-2/3 1000 in my house somewhere already.

I don't know if I'll be able to try this out today, as I don't have any adhesive, but I'm excited to. I know I was nowhere near sharp enough before.

[Cochese]

Even without adhesive or lube, I got a pretty good start on this HF chisel.

[jdon]

I found the local Habitat store a good source for sharpening bases- I got a 1/2" 12x18" glass slab for < $2, and later found 4 12 x 12" polished granite tiles for .50 each. Now all I need is the room to set them up side by side- work my way up the grit scale...

BTW, nice job with the chisel- it took a few seconds to orient the first picture, and see the reflection

[gsmittle]

+1 on the nice job, and I LOVE the first pic!

The book says you can stick the sandpaper down with just water, but I've never had much success. The ends curl up.

Now if that HF chisel can hold an edge, you're in good shape.

g.

[Cochese]

It took a good bit of work to get the back flat, which is where I can start appreciating the cost of better tools. However, I'm not disappointed in the least. I knew it going in, and after a year of using them as they were (basically...I had sharpened them slightly with my WorkSharp), I now know what a good sharpening looks like and feels like. Even on the end grain, it pares very well.

But, like you said, we'll see how long it holds the edge. I'm not expecting very long, and am budgeting two sets of chisels from Lee Valley. Hopefully later this year I'll grab the mortise chisels and then replace these with the bench chisels.

All that said, I'm thrilled that I've learned this process.

[jussi]

I

But, like you said, we'll see how long it holds the edge. I'm not expecting very long, and am budgeting two sets of chisels from Lee Valley. Hopefully later this year I'll grab the mortise chisels and then replace these with the bench chisels.

All that said, I'm thrilled that I've learned this process.

which set are you going to get? Their new veritas bench chisels. I'm actually on the fence between them and LN chisels. Will probably check them out at WIA Pasadena and make my decision then. If u get them make sure to post a review.

[Cochese]

Narex bench and mortise, IIRC. The darker handled ones. Hopefully those will last me for a couple of decades.

Did some work on my next largest chisel and my Groz block. Sole of the plane needs a bit of work, but the chisel and plane blade came out very nice.

Chisel on some ash:


Hard to tell on the second one, but it's a tight spiral.

Plane sole after about five minutes on 180: