Plane tuning

[stuartpaul]

I've got 3 old stanley's that I'm going to spend some time on and wonder if anyone has used anything other that a sheet of glass for the truing process?

I'm happy enough to invest but at £40 ish for something I can't see me using very much I wondered if there are alternatives to give the flatness without the cost (ever the tight @rse!).

I'd thought of MDF but not sure this will be flat enough, - or would it be flat enough for something that doesn't have to be perfect? I'm not looking for engineering tolerances in this project.

Advice and thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Stuart

 

[Crooked Tree]

I flattened the sole of mine (a bit) using sandpaper on a piece of old kitchen worktop (the formica topped chipboard stuff). If you are not fussed with perfection then this worked for me. I held down the sandpaper using a batten clamped along one side.

 

[Allylearm]

What about a reclamation yard for a piece of marble/onyx

 

[Jacob]

.....I'm not looking for engineering tolerances in this project.

....

Is it really necessary at all?
The few times I've done this has been on 60* grit wet n dry, paper backed, which will stick nicely to a flat impervious surface by surface tension or some sort of general stiction, if well flooded with white spirit or similar (or probably any liquid). Cloth backed doesn't stick so well, and paper backed may take a few passes to get it flat down - helped if it is stored flat between boards to start with.
The surface I use is my CI planer table, but if you haven't got one, then glass, marble, formica, will do, AFAIK.
No need to polish. 60 grit is all you need as long as it is worked to and fro, not across. It will feel slightly directional at first but once the sharpness is worn off it will be low friction. If you want it polished just use it often for 50 years or so!

* or 40 grit if it's really bad.

PS to be realistic Crooked Tree's method above is good enough. I'm being a bit fussy!

 

[xy mosian]

What about a reclamation yard for a piece of marble/onyx

My own chunk of glass was an off-cut from a glazier. Something about 5" wide, about 30" long and anything over 10 or 12mm. Straight out of the scrap bin.

xy

 

[AndyT]

I use a mirror that came out of a skip when a shop was being refitted. No need to spend even £4 let alone £40.

 

[mn pete]

I'd say a heavy piece of glass or marble/granite. The nice thing is that you can use them with some wet sandpaper to keep your water stones flattened as well.

 

[goldeneyedmonkey]

I've used a granite offcut in the past, works a treat, use the weight of the granite to hold down the abrasive folded over the side. F.O.C from a worktop fitter, just bob your head in and ask.

Cheers _Dan.

 

[Harbo]

A strip of acrylic with some valve grinding paste works well

Rod

 

[bugbear]

I've got 3 old stanley's that I'm going to spend some time on and wonder if anyone has used anything other that a sheet of glass for the truing process?

I'm happy enough to invest but at £40 ish for something I can't see me using very much I wondered if there are alternatives to give the flatness without the cost (ever the tight @rse!).

I'd thought of MDF but not sure this will be flat enough, - or would it be flat enough for something that doesn't have to be perfect? I'm not looking for engineering tolerances in this project.

Advice and thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Stuart

A plane sole needs to be flat to roughly the tolerance of the shavings you're planning to make - so a jack plane can have a fairly "sinuous" sole without causing trouble.

Once you've decided HOW flat you want your sole, you can start to look at the process to hit your target.

Be wary of straight/flat things that aren't rigid enough to STAY straight/flat during your process, a nice piece of float glass being the prime example.

BugBear

 

[stuartpaul]

Thanks all, - useful stuff.

My intention is to work them to a bit of a 'shine' as they have a particular sentimental value for me so probably more effort than some might consider worthwhile

BB - yes, aware than some 'flat' things won't always stay flat so need to have some cognisance of what's underneath and shim/support where necessary.

I've been recommended to use tempered glass (hence the £40) but fairly certain I'll be using something else. I like the idea of the planer bed but worried about creating a load of cr@p that might end up in the workings!

Stuart