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 Post subject: $10 flea market find
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:54 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Virginia, USA
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Hi, guys.
I am always looking for tools when I go to the flea markets. I've been reading on this forum lots of advice about finding good older tools, especially planes, at places like this. The idea is to purchase a good quality used plane that needs a little lovin' to get it back into working condition. So I was cruising along looking at planes last week, which they had a lot of. Unfortunately, most were asking more than I was able to spend at the time. Then I stumbled across this.
Attachment:
DCFC0075.JPG

The older fella there had this and an old Craftsman of generally the same size(14"), and he wanted $10 apiece, or both for $15. I seriously contemplated getting them both, but I really only need one 14" plane(I'd call this a jack plane, but I'm new to planes, so may be mistaken). After looking them over, I chose this one and gave the man his ten bucks.
Attachment:
DCFC0080.JPG

It's a Millers Falls. I believe it's one of their economy line. From the research I've been able to do online my best guess is it's a model 9814, made between 1974-1984. But it's made in the USA, and it seem to be a well made plane. As you can see above, it's pretty rusty. Here it is broken down.
Attachment:
DCFC0083.JPG

As you can see, I have my work cut out for me. Everything is intact and in working order, it's just really rusty. I plan to save everything, even the blade. I know most would chuck the blade and replace it with a hock or something better. But I really cannot afford forty to sixty bucks for a plane iron. Once I get all the rust off the old blade, get the primary bevel ground and put an edge on it, it should work as well for me as it did it's last owner. I know it worked for them, because they left wood chips behind to prove it.
Attachment:
DCFC0082.JPG

It may not hold an edge like the better blades, but if I have to sharpen it more often that just means more practice with that too, and in the end if I learn nothing else, I'll know how to sharpen my tools really well, lol.
If there's any interest I'll post progress shots of the work getting it back up to snuff. I've never done this before, but with the knowledge gained using the search engine here, as well as research on the rest of the net I think I can do a good enough job. If anyone is interested in following along with me as I learn by doing let me know and I'll be glad to post. Thanks for looking.


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Mike

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 Post subject: Re: $10 flea market find
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:11 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
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Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
Nice find. Just clean it up and tune it up; it will probably work just fine. I have an old Millers Falls, probably made in the 40's or so and the original iron works well. I use it to join tops and backs as well as to plane necks and fretboards. No problem getting .002" shavings with it.

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 Post subject: Re: $10 flea market find
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:49 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Virginia, USA
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SteveSmith wrote:
Nice find. Just clean it up and tune it up; it will probably work just fine. I have an old Millers Falls, probably made in the 40's or so and the original iron works well. I use it to join tops and backs as well as to plane necks and fretboards. No problem getting .002" shavings with it.


Thanks, Steve. That's just the kind of jobs I intend for it.

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 Post subject: Re: $10 flea market find
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:16 pm 
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Mike,

Check out my Electrolytic Rust Removal tutorial. I posted it for situations like this.

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: $10 flea market find
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:28 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Virginia, USA
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StevenWheeler wrote:
Mike,

Check out my Electrolytic Rust Removal tutorial. I posted it for situations like this.

Steve

Cool toot! I found one similar here. https://home.comcast.net/~stanleyplanes/planes101/electrolysis/electrolysis.htm
But I needed to make sure the sole was flat and the sides were square to the sole, so I was gonna be sanding anyway. The good news is, if the rust comes back, that toot could come in handy indeed.

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 Post subject: Re: $10 flea market find
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:11 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6262
Location: Virginia
Rule number one, always lay a plane on it's side :mrgreen:

I clean vintage bike parts with a solution of oxalic acid(wood bleach). Just dip and soak a few hours and it strips the rust away. I imagine it would work on a plane too.


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