Hi,
I’ve encountered a recent problem while hand planing Lyptus wood. After 3-4 passes I get wood resin/dust stuck to the sole of the plane and it takes vigorous scrubing with steel wool to remove it. My blades are all sharp and the sole has been flattened. It seems like the heat from moving the plane against the wood is reacting with resins and dust on the wood surface to cause the gumming problem. Has anyone else encountered this and is there a way to avoid it. I tried sweeping up the dust after every pass but that didn’t seem to help.
– Peter
Replies
I've never had this happen, but it occurs to me that mineral spirits might remove the resin easier than steel wool. If it does, you could put a bit in squirt bottle and quickly clean the plane with a squirt and a rag when the buld up affected your planing of the wood. The mineral spirits won't raise the grain or affect the finish either. Just a thought.
Hi Peter,
It's resin and occurs more frequently with eucalypt that isn't dried fully - either that or you're planing over gum veins.
No easy way to get rid of it.
To stop it from happening again, wax on the sole on the plane helps.
Cheers,
eddie
Added to Eddies reply, use candle wax on the plane bottom. Candle wax on wood or metal planes works better than anything I have ever used.As far as any contamination from candle wax, I personally never have had a problem.
mike
Second what eddie says, also the white candle (can stay in your pocket and doesnt stain). I have laso had some of this resin transfer to and clog sharpening stones. Mineral spirit or White Spirit (the kind used in hiking stoves) seems to work.
its english name is gumwood.....bluegum, redgum, etc. Mineral spirits removes it easily and the gum (resin actually) is what makes the material burn so hot. aloha, mike
You might also want to consider wiping the sole of your plane with an applicator dosed with Camelia oil. Lubricates like wax, and residual won't contaminate the work and cause finishing problems down the road.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
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