Bootfair Coffin

[jimi43]

Work has prevented me from going to bootfairs often recently so the haul has been small..but not DEAD! Even though you would have thought finding a coffin would indicate otherwise!!!

About the best plane find I have had in a while..if ever...

As per usual...there is something wrong with the things I find...but that is the fun isn't it. As you can see...a VERY long time ago this one lost it's front bun...

It has very little pitting to the body and is wonderfully dovetailed...

The back has had a bashing...

...but the important bits..the sole and the mouth are near perfect and the iron sits beautifully...

...it's a Sorby by the way.....

So....off to whittle up a front bun....the old one is made of mahogany ages ago and the "repairer" did an awful job...but what he did do was not glue it in place...so I have to forgive him something...

More later as I fix it up...(no polishing...just a new knob)

Later....

Jim

 

[PeterBassett]

Go on...How much??? :roll:

 

[jimi43]

Go on...How much??? :roll:

Um....£25 8)

Jim

 

[Sportique]

That's a great find Jim. 8)

Look forward to seeing the results of the fettling

Dave

 

[jimi43]

I thought so! :wink:

Quick beg here...anyone have a tiny bit of Rio knocking about in their exotic wood collection they would be willing to sell?

I only have thinner Brazilian...(the wood not the style!) and some Indian and clearly this needs something more "special"....

Or should I just rip out both bits and redo it in Wych elm?




Jim

 

[rileytoolworks]

Well done Jimi. Another excellent find. I'm glad you're not up in this part of the country as I'd never get anything (although I usually don't find anything as nice as you do).
Really looking forward to this one. Looks set to be another inspirational thread.
Can't wait. Afraid I can't help with the Rio though, unfortunately.


Adam.

 

[Nicholas Dalberg]

er yes I have some genuine rio
pm me

 

[PeterBassett]

Go on...How much??? :roll:

Um....£25 8)

Jim

Grrrr!!!

It looks like a beauty.

 

[jimi43]

I will try to keep away from your area Adam...I only do bootfairs within a few miles of me...it's amazing how they vary with quality of stuff on offer...deep in Kent...good...towards London...crap!

It certainly feels like a good-un Peter...I have been playing with it this evening!

Nicholas...PM sent...many many thanks for the very kind offer!

Before I start the fettling Dave....I do what I always do...check to see if it will work as good as it looks...and this one is a toughie...those tapered irons are a laugh aren't they!!!? I wanted to keep the slight curve on the edge...it's nearly there but it needs much more back flattening...

This old Sorby steel is gorgeous to work with...

So...even though I need to get the second straight edge straighter...it is very promising!

Some English oak....

I put 25/30 on the edge but it still shaves this hard oak pretty well!

It simply loves cherry...

....not too hot on American walnut but this stuff is a nightmare anyway...

Not wafer thin....but it still could do with some more iron fettling...

But amazingly, the best stock performance is on unseasoned willow...

...it simply cut through it as if it wasn't there producing very thin shavings...lovely stuff!

So....is it worth carrying on with the restoration...

Of COURSE it is! :wink: 8)

More later...

Jimi

 

[jimi43]

Did a bit of tinkering with Indian since anything is better than what it was and Rio is way out of my horizon at the mo!

The bit I had left over from the shoulder infill was not quite wide enough...so unfortunately I could not overlap the sides as I would have liked but this gives me a template for when I dig out some proper stock...

....but it is far more comfortable to use now!

Jim