PSA: I tried using a vintage hand plane on some reclaimed oak and it taught me a lesson

Found an old Stanley No. 5 at a flea market in Knoxville last fall, figured I'd clean it up and give it a shot. The blade was sharp, but I didn't realize how much the sole had worn unevenly over the decades. Instead of a smooth shaving, it just kept digging in and chattering across the grain. Took me an hour of fussing to finally check it with a straightedge and see the problem. Anyone have a good method for flattening an old plane sole without a surface grinder?

2 comments

2 Comments

cooper.max13d ago

Yeah, that's the hidden cost of old tools. I bought a box of "ready to use" vintage chisels once, and every single one had a back that was rounded like a spoon. Spent more time fixing them than I saved buying them cheap.

the_evan12d ago

Read somewhere that old chisels often need way more work than they're worth.