Hand Plane Handles - Getting them the same colour

[Chems]

I have an old Record Number 5 1/2, its about to be joined by a few of its brothers, a Number 4 is on the way and I hope to add a number 7 sometime soon.

This is how the handles (and the plane) was when I got it:



After sanding off all the dirt on the handles I was left with this:



I've no idea what colour they were originally but someone recommended that I oil them with Boiled Linseed Oil. So I began doing this but theres no way they are going to end up the same colour. What should I do? Shellac?

 

[promhandicam]

If you want them the same colour as before then the answer is simple . . . dirt.

Steve :lol:

 

[Smudger]

I've tried mahogany and walnut stain, then wax. It wasn't totally convincing, but better than 'raw'. What I find is that when I sand down an old tote it is hard to get an even colour to work from, as some parts are lighter than others.

There used to be a guy on eBay who made excellent replacement knobs and totes, but he seems to have stopped. If anyone has any contact details for him I'd love to have them.

 

[tnimble]

With these non rosewood handles I useally give them one or two light coats of shellac, a mahogany stain a layer of shellac and then some raw linseed oil / beeswax / turpentine mixture.

 

[bugbear]

I've no idea what colour they were originally but someone recommended that I oil them with Boiled Linseed Oil. So I began doing this but theres no way they are going to end up the same colour. What should I do? Shellac?

If you wish to change the colour you need a dye or stain, or a coloured varnish; you may have noted as you stripped the original that there was a layer of dark-ish varnish, and that there was a thin layer of red next to the wood.

I've had success with a basic (Rustins IIRC) mahogany (or is it rosewood) stain followed by danish oil.

BugBear

 

[Pekka Huhta]

The original color and feel can be reproduced with linseed oil and dark shellac. First soak them in oil for a while, wipe dry. Let the oil dry for a few hours. The original handles have been dipped in shellac, so make a pretty thick shellac solution (abt 1 part of flakes to a glass jar and pour alcohol on top of it untill the level is 1,5 times the amount of flakes) and dip the handles there. Wipe off all drips, let dry for an hour or two, repeat if needed.

You may need a bit of dye under it, but not always.

Pekka

 

[Chems]

I have not experience with shellac, but I guess it is something I can buy from one of the sheds?

I will have a go at what Pekka is describing and let you know how I got on. I hope it goes well as I have just acquired a number 4 in the same condition today!

 

[Pekka Huhta]

I don't know where to get shellac flakes over there, I'm buying them from my paint retailer. I hope someone over there can help.

One thing though: when removing old shellac from the handles, use a liberal amount of alcohol (not internally :wink: ) and a 3M scotchbrite or steel wool. Alcohol softens the old shellac and it can be easily scrubbed off the handles. You can also preserve most of the old stain this way. Mechanical scraping of the old, hard shellac damages the stain, softening the old shellac with alcohol makes it so easy to remove that you will have most of the old stain left.

Pekka

 

[Mr Ed]

The Hock shellac flakes from Classic Hand tools are good. Just mix with meths and you're away. I usually go for 20g of flakes to 200ml of colourless meths. Make a rubber out of a wad of absorbent cloth wrapped in a cover of lint free cloth. I reccomend a bit of t-shirt material in the middle and a piece of cotton shirt on the outside.

The shellac goes on really thin and dries quick so you can build up coats quickly. It provides a nice shiny durable finish; I have used it on quite a few tools and I know Philly uses it on his planes.

Hope that is of some help,

Cheers, Ed