OK folks I just got my B-Day gift over the weekend. It is a LN #4 1/2 slightly used that my folks picked up for me.
Looking at it I have to say it is in pretty good shape. It has a bit of scapeing on the bottom and one side (looks mostly from use) and has one very tiny pin prick of the black missing on the front top. handle and tote are in good shape and the blade looks ok.
So what are the suggestions for this. I assume that I should test the blade or should I just sharpen it? (that is a whole nother issue, how best to sharpen this)
So what are all of you thinking. This when added into the collection of my Grandpa’s old Stanley clone of a larger plane (not sure of the equal number but the sucher is about 18″ long) and a good Veritus Block plane should get me started down the road to hand planeing. So here we go!
-Doug Meyer
Replies
Doug,
Happy birthday. I oil all of my cast iron planes lightly with camelia oil to keep the rust away. You can use anything that will do the job. Sharpen the blade, and get to work! You can check the sole across the length and width with a straight edge, but LN tools do a great job with that, and I haven't had one yet that needed any fettling.
You sound a little unsure about the sharpening, if I read you correctly. The 4 1/2 is a smoother, and should have a slight camber to the iron. Here's what I do to all my smoothers. Create the proper bevel (if it isn't already there from LN or previous owner. If it is, skip and move on.). Create a microbevel of 3 to 5 degrees, it isn't critical. I just eyeball it. When you're honing at each grit of whatever process you use for sharpening, take 5 to 10 extra passes with extra pressure on each corner, one at a time. This will create just enough camber to not leave tracks in your work. Turn the blade over, and do the ruler trick on the back to hone a mini microhone across the back of the blade where it meets the bevel (otherwise known as the cutting edge), and have at it.
Jeff
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