Maintaining smooth running of new plane?

[Nads]

I have just received my brand new shinny Veritas LA Jack , and was wondering if people could give my any advice on keeping it in good condition and running smoothly. It says in the manual to remove oil and coat in a thin layer of wax, leave for a while and then buff. It says that this waxing process should be repeated on a regular basis. Do any of you guys do this and if so how often? Also would ‘Liberon Black Bison Fine Paste Wax’ be ok for this? :? As the manual mentions that some waxes can cause problems such as ‘fish eye’?!

Do you need to do anything else to keep the smoothing running of the plane? Oiling?
I was going to keep the plane in the rust paper and the new ‘Lee valley’ plane sock I also brought for it, does this sound ok?

Sorry for all the questions!

Many Thanks

Nads

 

[Jarviser]

For myself, anything that will keep moisture away from the cast iron and steel is good, and anything that will get into the wood grain is bad. So I use camellia oil when I put my planes away, and give them a wipe over before use to remove excess. Camellia oil is supposed not to mark wood, but I don't give it the chance. I have used Briwax, but it doesn't get into the threads of the adjusters etc, nor in the little nooks and crannies. I suspect waxing and polishing your new plane will go the way of polishing new shoes - the novelty will wear off (really!)

 

[Nads]

I’ve got some camellia oil that I use to protect my saws and chisels should I use this instead of the wax? Sorry I’m new to all this, does the wax or oil JUST help to protect the plane against rust or does it ALSO act as lubricate to protect the metal of the plane too while in use, in practical the sole?

 

[Waka]

Nads

I also use camilla oil for my planes, they are also kept in plane socks like you have and I have no problem with rust at all.

Regarding an aid to using the planer easier, on eof the recommended tips is to use candle was on the sole of the plane, this helps it glide over the stock.

Hope this helps

 

[Jarviser]

There are many who use the Camellia to lubricate the sole as well, I believe DC uses it for that purpose. Bob Wearing advocates a pad of carpet lightly oiled to rest the plane on between uses. I prefer to use a zigzag of candle wax myself on a dried sole as I find it takes only a second to do, and with things like oak it needs lubricating every few minutes.

 

[Nads]

So it would be ok to use the ‘Liberon Black Bison Paste Wax’ (as it is what I’ve already got) to give the whole plane a once over before I use it and then to lubricate the sole when needed. And then use the camellia oil with my plane sock as my mean line of defence against rust while the plane is not in use?! Is they anything else I need to do in terms of maintenance, oiling screw threads or anything? It’s just after spending what is a lot of money to me on a new plane, I just want to look after it the best I can!

Cheers

Nads

 

[Paul Chapman]

Nads,

As a general principle I think it is always best to lubricate screw threads. I use WD40 and wipe off any excess with some tissue. That way you won't get any oil on your work but enough will be retained in the threads to keep things running smoothly - and stop any rust.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy your new plane and stop worrying so much - go and use it

Paul

 

[Nads]

Don't worry about that Paul's I'm starting a new project this weekend, and I'll be giving the plane a good test drive then! :lol: It's just good to know how to look after it properly too!! :wink:

Thanks

Nads

 

[Paul Chapman]

Good luck with the project Nads, hope it goes well

Paul

 

[Alf]

Black Bison is fine; I use it all the time when I'm doing a "proper clean". A swift once over with a little camelia oil after a whisk over with a soft brush for day to day putting away (and them into a plane sock). Candle wax scribble for lubrication in use. A touch of 3-in-1 on the threads when I remember (not often).

Cheers, Alf

 

[AndyG]

OK, so how many of us have non Lie-Nielsen planes in Lie-Nielsen socks. My excuse is they're the only plane socks I've ever seen. My own (feet) socks are too full of holes before they reach an age to go in the rags bin!!

Andy

 

[Alf]

Guilty. Lee Valley do some too, so there are probably LN planes somewhere out there slumming it in the wrong socks... :lol:

Cheers, Alf

 

[kygaloot]

Camelia oil and Plane stockings? What, no hygrometric storage chamber?

I find plain old Minwax paste finishing wax to do the job quite well. $5.00/lb.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Blimey, next they'll be selling grippaknickers and suspenders to hold up the socks :shock: :roll:

Paul

 

[Alf]

Camelia oil and Plane stockings? What, no hygrometric storage chamber?

Well that's a fancy name for a tool chest, but it does have those anti-rust vapour things and lined with that brown paper stuff. The workshop's dehumidified 24/7, does that count? :lol: I do enough rust removal on old tools; I don't need the grief of letting the new ones rot.

I see Google's offering up Love Poem links for this thread now. "Oh how I love thee, plane. Enrobe in grey wool sock, thy loveliness know no bounds" anyone? :roll:

Cheers, Alf

 

[kygaloot]

I don't think I have ever seen "lovliness" used to describe Veritas bench planes.

 

[Sean the amateur]

Do not, as somebody said, use WD40 on your tools.

WD40 is not a lubricant oil,it is for cleaning out the junk, and it can lead to rusting.

 

[Anonymous]

I have just received my brand new shinny Veritas LA Jack , and was wondering if people could give my any advice on keeping it in good condition and running smoothly. It says in the manual to remove oil and coat in a thin layer of wax, leave for a while and then buff. It says that this waxing process should be repeated on a regular basis. Do any of you guys do this and if so how often? Also would ‘Liberon Black Bison Fine Paste Wax’ be ok for this? :? As the manual mentions that some waxes can cause problems such as ‘fish eye’?!

Do you need to do anything else to keep the smoothing running of the plane? Oiling?
I was going to keep the plane in the rust paper and the new ‘Lee valley’ plane sock I also brought for it, does this sound ok?

Sorry for all the questions!

Many Thanks

Nads

Nads, I've owned quite a few LN and LV planes for several years now with no oiling (except blade after sharpening) nor plane socks nor anything else and have never seen a spot of rust on them

Don't worry too much

 

[Paul Chapman]

Sean,

That was probably me recommending WD40. I've used it for years for everything where in the past I would have used something like 3-in-1 oil. I use it on my tools, as a honing fluid on diamond and oil stones, and numerous other things. I've never had any problems with rust from using it - and doesn't the "WD" in WD40 stand for water dispersant?

Paul

 

[Sean the amateur]

Paul,

I don't know what the WD means. And, I am not an engineer or expert on oils. But I lived in the USA for twenty years and remember reading several magazine articles about this. I think WD40 is what engineers call a penetrating oil (I couldn't think of that word last night), and so it penetrates into dirty places and cleans out the junk. But the articles I read clearly said that it can lead to rust.