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My son in law has an old Stanley block plane that needs to be cleaned up,like removing rust.What are some of the things some of you have done successfully.
Thanks,
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I have used evaporust successfully. I have also just scraped and sanded it off for something like a plane. The evaporust is easier but is not cheap (not really expensive either but...).

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

If it's not deeply pitted/rusty/crusty, mineral spirits and steel wool followed by medium and fine Sandflex abrasive rubber blocks http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/KSA-9999/Sandflex-Blocks-Kit is what I have done. If it's nasty, I use electrolysis with an auto battery charger, Arm & Hammer Washing (not Baking) Soda solution in a 5 gal. bucket and an old lawnmower blade as the positive electrode.
After the majority of deep rust is gone give it a good scrubbing with a wire wheel on a corded drill then work though the grits up to 400 starting with 120 grit wet/dry sandpaper and soapy water. Rinse and dry with a hair dryer/heat gun. Paint with 3-4 coats of semigloss black Engine Enamel from Advance Auto.

Is that advance auto enamel vastly superior than other brands of enamel ?
also you said paint it on... i was lookin around and i can only find aerosols
does it matter
anyone know of any uk brands
good time to bring it up thanks

A 12v battery charger, a bucket, a bit of washing soda and some water to make an electrolyte solution, a sacrificial anode (old rusty gate hinge or any other bit of scrap iron will do) and your in the pro rust removal business.

Google "Rust removal by electrolysis" and see how you get on, cheap, easy and by far the most effective tool restoration method known.


Here is just one link for you, lots more if you look. http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp

Cheers

Kim

James,
How much rust? Pitted or no? Naval Jelly works as does this process I used on my bandsaw table this weekend. (next to the last post, page 1)
viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=29994&start=0

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Bobby Masten

More detail...
I used a spray can of Duplicolor brand Ford semigloss (600 degree) Black as recommended by a restorer as a replacement for the Japaning process. It matched exactly to my old unrestored Stanley planes. I'm sure there are old tool fanatics in the UK who could advise on a substitute there.

It wasn`t too bad.He just sanded it off with a little mineral spirits.Now on to trying to sharpen it.It`s pretty dang blunt.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

You'll need a grinder to sharpen it.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

Oxalic acid, or wood bleach as it's commonly called, does wonders on vintage bicycle parts with rust. I would think it would work quite well on an old plane too.

I am would guess that this is a good method. But after buying some used, non-rusted, old Stanley planes for about $25 each off eBay I have to wonder why anyone would want to spend this much time, expense and effort on an old plane. They are readily available everyday. Of course, the joy of bringing something back to useful life is a fulfilling task for most of us.

Ed

I was responding to the OP and for future readers who pick up rusty/crusty usable planes at Yard Sales/Fleamarkets or like me have family heirlooms needing help. Sure they can find usable planes on Ebay. You may end up with a pig in a poke too. Don't forget you will also have to pay for shipping and for some of us, every dime counts. Considering the time you will need to spend on any old plane to tune it, totally stripping one down that needs it is not that involved or expensive.

I would encourage everyone to seek out their local MWTCA chapter meeting http://www.mwtca.org/ and check out the Swap Meet before each meeting. Not only will you beat Ebay prices, you will have a chance to actually hold the tool in your hands, check it out and probably will have a choice of various types of the particular plane, chisel, rule, saw, hammer, whatever you are looking for. You will learn something while you're there and meet others who may have an interest and money to spend in your shop.

The MWTCA is a great place to find like-minded neanderthals but every swap meet I have been to, the tools are always more expensive than ebay. The last meeting I went to, there wasn't a decent block plane under $60 or any smoother under $80. The meetings are worth going to though and the MWTCA is really worth joining. It is nice being able to handle the tools, if you are not familiar with them.

I'm 38 and I was the youngest person at any of the meetings I went to. There is a wealth of knowledge to be had just by chatting up the members. Most guys at the swap meet are happy to sell but really seem to be there for the cameraderie. Go, you'll learn a lot and make friends. Kind of like here.


To the OP - elbow grease will get most of the rust off. I like the evaporust for more stubborn stuff. I've never tried electrolosis - it's cheap and seems to work well.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

I had an old Bailey No.5 plane that had a lot of rust. I just took off the handle, dismantled it, and put everything in a large container which I filled up with Coka-Cola. Give about 4-5 days and that thing will be cleaner than clean without the black residue that is inherent with electro removal.


I actually had a post about that here, a few years back...

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=5945&hilit=+rust

There it is!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

John,
You gotta know what "Type" you're looking at as most Stanley planes are not that collectable. If they are asking $60 for a block plane, they are really asking for a offer of $20 and will settle for $40 or they're waiting on a greater fool and you just keep walking. An early type of any Stanley and you're talking serious money to a collector. The pros selling at the big tables are in it to make money and the planes they have on display are just the tip of the iceberg for most of them. They represent their cream of the crop as far as collector value. Let them know what you're after (User, price range, etc) and it will magically appear at the next meeting or they will arrange for you to get it. If you just want a user level plane they will have 4 or 5 of them back in their shed in various states of repair and will sell cheap if they don't have to pretty them up. Their time is money and they will make money on the deal.