Replies

1. 
   BruceS | Dec 11, 2011 09:29pm | #1

   Wood plane care

   Just how old are your planes ??  50-150+    years old.    I'de be willing to bet that most of their life has not been in an environmentally controlled area.  If they are in good shape now why change their life style. .

   But I would avoid a damp wet basement.   

2. 
   hammer1 | Dec 13, 2011 07:35am | #2

   You could put some desicant packs in the plane box to absorb excess humidity, might help keep the irons from rusting, too.

3. 
   Metod | Dec 14, 2011 08:13am | #3

   Sawdust?

   I would try (I have no experience, though) to keep the woodies in a container filled with dry sawdust. I would only take a few moments to dust them off before each use.

   Sawdust is like endgrain - wicking the moisture. Invest into some $20 hygrometer, and keep it with the planes.

   Maybe somebody else can shed some light on the hygroscopic property of the sawdust - and suggest what advantaghe could be in it.

   I do not have a humidifier in my basement shop. Water pipes sweat in the summer, but no rust on the table saw, jointer, planer, etc. Years ago I began wondering, if this is because my untidiness. I do not brush or vacuum the dust off the sensitive metal surfaces. Now, for all the antirust spells that I keep casting...

   Best wishes,

   Metod

1. 
   hammer1 | Dec 14, 2011 10:20am | #4

   Actually, Metod, sawdust can cause problems since it does absorb moisture and can transfer it to the tools. Maybe in a mesh bag so it's not in contact. Excelsior is an option. With desicant packs, you can pop them in the microwave, remove any moisture and throw them back in the tool box. They help with odors, too. Keep the sawdust off your iron.

4. 
   Metod | Dec 15, 2011 12:19pm | #5

   Lack of empirical

   Hammer,

   you might be right. I wonder whether a dessicant works on the same principle - different moisture gradient levels for different agents.

   I do use silica gel for moisture removal. I do not have other empirical evidence for the sawdust other than the one I mentioned.

   Best wishes,

   Metod

1. 
   swenson | Dec 15, 2011 04:34pm | #6

   I always wonder at those little silica gel packets.  You know, the ones that come inside packages of stuff you get in the mail.  They sure don't look like anything I would snack on.  I'm a world class snacker and yet I have never even once considered a silica gel packet.  Can anybody tell me why they all have that warning on them?  You know, the one that says "Do not eat this packet of silica gel."   Is this really a big problem?  And those people who do try to eat them, do they actually swallow the little crystals I can feel when I crunch them between my fingers?  I often wonder what happens to them.  Do they die?  Is it really good for the gene pool to warn people about this?

   (It's a tough job, but now that Andy Rooney is no longer with us somebody has to do it)

   Didja ever notice how 60 Minutes sorta just stops now that AR is gone?  At the end of one hour it just ends.  It kinda lacks a final period.  An end. It sorta just goes away into black.

1. 
   Metod | Dec 16, 2011 08:06am | #7

   Tanks for

   Swenson,

   Thanks for substituting for Andy. Make a long term commitment <g>.

   - All those warnings? Anti-evolution.

   - Don't eat this packet. What's the problem? They are replaceable and not that expensive.

   - Do they die? Well, we all do (some of us - untimely...). Just at a different stages of dessication.  Embalming or other post-mortem money extractions might be less for a well dessicated (lots of those packets) specimen.

   - Swallow? If you want the dessication to start in your mouth then you crunch. You swallow, especially if you need a drink first.

   Best wishes,

   Metod

2. 
   RalphBarker | Dec 17, 2011 06:04pm | #8

   silica gel packets

   Or, if you struck through the word "not" and sent them to Congress (your choice of which side of the aisle), would doing so be considered an act of terrorism?  ;-)

   You're doing fine as a stand-in for our beloved AR. Keep up the good work.

1. 
   BruceS | Dec 17, 2011 09:11pm | #9

   Shipment to Congress

   The nation would be greatfull if they were sent to the "wrong" side.

   Not always politically correct.