Odd suggestion

[sniks7]

I met a chap from this forum, and as happens when discussing precision American planes and hand tools that are way too beautifully made to get any where near a workshop, the discussion ended up with us bemoaning the difficulty of sharpening expensive Japanese damascus steel knives (some of which are way too beautifully made to go anywhere near food and so shouldn't be blunt in any case..).

I went home, hacked some 2mm wide chunks of lemon into a stiff gin and got on with my life.

However, after 20 years, I've finally managed to get a worthwhile edge on a Kai Sanguto: just about good enough to shave with.

As part of the process (medium grit, fine grit, leather strop with polish) a little light went 'bing' and I thought "why not try out autosol on the strop?".

But I didn't have any Autosol because my bike is largely made out of plastic. So I used Autoglym Paint renovator. Which seems to have given the blade a lovely polish and means I can now drop paper thin slices of lemon into my six o'clock sharpener.

And I then thought, as I buffed the blade up with a chamois, using Autosol might be an interesting way of polishing up hand tools, which would give me something other than firewood to contribute to this forum.

QED

 

[Aled Dafis]

Sorry to dissapoint you Sniks, but this tip is pretty well known around here, as the Autosol greatly decreases friction on plane soles, and it is also believed to help in the fight against the dreaded rust.

I believe that our very own David Charlsewoth treats all his plane soles to a good polish with Autosol and fine wire wool, so if it's good enough for DC, then I'm dammed sure it's good enough for me.

Regards

Aled

 

[sniks7]

Damn!

Although I have to admit, as I clicked the 'post great tip' button, I did think I should have run a search through the forum..

 

[Philly]

One of the things that fascinates me about our hobby is that pretty much every problem has been encountered, solved, and that solution refined many times. And that that happened decades or even centuries ago! :lol:
But only inspires me - one day I, too, hope to come up with a unique new tip.
Cheers
Philly

 

[bugbear]

As part of the process (medium grit, fine grit, leather strop with polish) a little light went 'bing' and I thought "why not try out autosol on the strop?".

Yes, that works fine. The vast majority of polishes are just abrasives, albeit rather fine ones.

So the Autosol is serving the same purpose as this honing compound

Autosol is quite fierce, since it's designed for chrome, which is rather hard. Polishes for other metals (e.g. brasso) will be different.

BugBear

 

[lurker]

BB,

I use Autosol because I happened to have a can and also because St. DC uses it.

When you say fierce, I'm trying to work out if you think thats a "good thing" or not. How does it compare with jewelers rouge??

Stropping aside, what's your views on using Autosol on plane soles??

 

[bugbear]

BB,
I use Autosol because I happened to have a can and also because St. DC uses it.

Two good reasons

When you say fierce, I'm trying to work out if you think thats a "good thing" or not.

"fierce" is neither good nor bad. Is 120 grit sandpaper good or bad? It's all a matter of matching the tool to the job.

However, I suspect many people think that "polishes" are all (and always) gentle, so I was trying to point out that autosol is well over to the "more abrasive" end of the spectrum as polishes go.

How does it compare with jewelers rouge??

AFAIK rouge is much gentler, although I don't think it's a standardised product.

Stropping aside, what's your views on using Autosol on plane soles??

I've never gone to a high enough grit with SiC for Autosol to be a logical "next step" - I'm lazy, I guess.

BugBear

 

[woodbloke]

BB,

I use Autosol because I happened to have a can and also because St. DC uses it.

When you say fierce, I'm trying to work out if you think thats a "good thing" or not. How does it compare with jewelers rouge??

Stropping aside, what's your views on using Autosol on plane soles??

I saw DC's planes at Yandles in April wot had been polished with Autosol and was impressed :wink: I now give each one of mine a bit of a polish each week and it's gradually bringing up quite a lustre on the metalwork - Rob

 

[lurker]

One reason I asked about Autosol & plane soles is that every time I use it there is a lot of black stuff that needs careful cleaning off.

I'm a bit new to this plane fettling lark and made a mistake not long ago.

I "sanded" down a sole quite smooth (not quite shiney) and thought I'd cleaned it well.
Then I started to plane up a large Oak board, got it real nice :lol:
Turned my back and when I looked again the wood was covered in black streaks :shock: :shock:
I thought the black paint I'd used on the rest of the plane was "leaking".

It took quite a while until it dawned on me that the plane sole was contaminated with "iron filings" buried in the surface & they had transfered to the wood and were reacting with the tannin in the Oak.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I saw DC's planes at Yandles in April wot had been polished with Autosol and was impressed :wink: I now give each one of mine a bit of a polish each week and it's gradually bringing up quite a lustre on the metalwork

In the days, long ago, when I did cycle racing, I used to polish the spokes of my wheels with Autosol - they would really gleam At the end of races I could hear people say "Nice bike - pity about the legs" :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[bugbear]

One reason I asked about Autosol & plane soles is that every time I use it there is a lot of black stuff that needs careful cleaning off.

yes; on the one time I tried it I "washed down" with white spirit. I do use Autosol to polish saw blades, BTW.

It took quite a while until it dawned on me that the plane sole was contaminated with "iron filings" buried in the surface & they had transfered to the wood and were reacting with the tannin in the Oak.

I used 0000 wire wool between coats of danish oil...

... on an oak windowsill.

BIG mistake :-(

BugBear

 

[woodbloke]

I saw DC's planes at Yandles in April wot had been polished with Autosol and was impressed :wink: I now give each one of mine a bit of a polish each week and it's gradually bringing up quite a lustre on the metalwork

In the days, long ago, when I did cycle racing, I used to polish the spokes of my wheels with Autosol - they would really gleam At the end of races I could hear people say "Nice bike - pity about the legs" :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

:lol: :lol: - Rob

 

[sniks7]

I find the Autoglym stuff easier to slather on than the jeweller's grit.. That said, it does slather off more easily too.

 

[Good Surname or what ?]

If I recall correctly, as a student of DC's tool tuning, he uses Autosol on the chipbreaker but car wax on the plane sole.

 

[jonbikebod]

My approach (and I am pretty sure it is the one used by David) is to flatten the sole though the grits, polish with fine wire wool and Autosol. To get he final polish and remove all of the black debris, a couple of applications of paste wax does the trick and tends to retain the shine. The same would go for the chip breaker after it has been seated and sharpened.
Jon.

 

[Benchwayze]

Just to be flippin' awkward...

Obviously, I wouldn't buy a rusty, pitted bench plane at a boot-sale. But we do find bargains and as long as the sole and mouth are respectable via 'eye-ball', I do all the adjusting, breaker-polishing, and sharpening first. Then I try the thing out. If I can then take a full-width, fine shaving, I do only the minimum of work on the sole. After all, the sole needs to be flat, across its full width, but only at selected points:

(At the toe; before and behind the mouth and at the heel.)

So, if a plane will take a proper shaving, before any flattening is attempted, then I would say it's flat enough to do its job; unless you are a perfectionist. Personally, I'd rather flatten a timber surface than a cast-iron one any day!

As to Autosol, having owned a classic motorcycle, before it was a classic, I was fully aware of Autosol and I transferred it to the workshop years ago. I didn't know it was supposed to be a secret.

Oh how I wish I was young again and could make all these discoveries! :lol:

I'm just envious of anyone younger than me, to be honest!


And, whomever invented Autosol should be decorated!

Regards

John

 

[Digit]

And, whomever invented Autosol should be decorated!

I'd shoot the pipper. The hours of my wasted youth I spent with cloth and Autosol polishing the spokes on Brit bikes could have been put to better use! :lol:

Roy.

 

[jonbikebod]

And, whomever invented Autosol should be decorated!

I'd shoot the pipper. The hours of my wasted youth I spent with cloth and Autosol polishing the spokes on Brit bikes could have been put to better use! :lol:

Roy.

Eye, with their stainless steel spokes and their workshop buffing mops, kids today don’t know how lucky they are… :roll: :lol:

Jon.

 

[Benchwayze]

Wasted youth? Nahhh!
I had one pal who stripped down his Road Rocket and put it back together every fourth Sunday!

Well, maybe it was Saturday as we had to observe the Sabbath then, as opposed to listening to them! :shock:
Them was the days! But just to bring us back on topic, Autosol is still Autosol!
Regards
John

 

[Digit]

Yep! They were't noted for reliability. The upside was that owning Brit bikes was as good as a garage apprenticeship.

Roy.