30 Minute "Good Enough" Block Plane Rehab

Products used: Video equipment used: Thanks for supporting this channel by using these links to buy your products. Even the most hard core power tool woodworker needs a couple good block planes; one standard, and one low angle for planing end grain. I use mine for flushing joinery, softening edges, cleaning up defects and other miscellaneous tasks. Sure, you can spend hundreds of dollars to buy high end hand planes, or invest countless hours into perfectly restoring a neglected flea market find, but my goal with hand plane restoration is simply to bring them to a state where they can perform the simple tasks that I ask of them. I have developed a simple sequence that can achieve that task, and I can generally bring a block plane or small bench plane to a usable state is about 30 minutes of working time (even if it is badly rusted), not counting the rust-removal soak time. It starts with a good bath. First, disassemble the parts and soak them for 24 hours in a solution of vinegar and salt, at a ratio of one tablespoon of salt per cup of vinegar. Vinegar alone will work, but the salt accelerates the process and produces a better result. Rust removal results. You’ll be amazed by how the rust will crumble off the iron. After soaking in the vinegar and salt mixture, most of the rehab work is already done. Scrub the remaining rust and grime. Using a brass brush, scrub the metal pieces to remove any remaining rust. After a good soak in the vinegar solution, this...