Friday wrap up

On today's respite care I went to pick up that old Narex chisel at the antique shop, kind of on my way (well sort off) to the Base woodshop :-)

Look like a No 150 or 151

I thought and I still think, that they were asking too much, even at 50% off (reg $20) but after reading about the company history I was intrigued and wanted to know how it would perform.
Now $10 is still too much, yes, but I know these fine folks that own the business and I like to support them whenever I can.

I said it look like No 150 or 151 from the 1937 catalog on their site.

The difference between No 150 and 151? Beats me, its all in German!! :-)

So mine is NOT from the Richter years, but rather NAREX, but it is still made in similar fashion complete with the sticker proclaiming EXTRA, just like in the Richter years. If it was from the Ritcher's years it would apparently be quite valuable and collectible (that's what they say on their site)

Unfortunately the area severely rusted is where I would 

have expected to find markings, model, size etc. 

The remainder of the blade look pretty bad, 

but I recovered worse :-)

One thing that I did not noticed at the time of purchase was that the blade back is bellied, ether by curvature (bent) or because the front 2 in or so have been honed a heck of a lot.

It's quite a dip, but the other side does not exhibit much curvature.

Almost look like the front got quite honed to death (belt sander??)

If it was curved in the other direction, that would be a problem, but that, I think, I can minimize it or live with it. I tried banging on it with a ball peen hammer on an anvil, then squeezed tight in a big vise jaw, did not seem to make one bit of difference. I don't want to break my $10 chisel, so I'll stop there and regroup.

No I don't want to heat it and etc.

I then gave it a quick clean up, 150 grit sandpaper and brass brush on the metal parts, including the bezels, but did not touched the wood part.

Ready for storage until it get its turn for sharpening.

At that time I would cleaned it up better first.

Why not go all the way and get it ready for sharpening now then sharpen it too? Because I don't have the time right now, but I got a good assessment of it and stopped further rust damages. Plenty good for storage!...

Then I started in earnest on the planes I brought: A Stanley No 5 Sweet Heart, with the patent date on the lever cap for the kidney shape hole and with a full length blade, a Union No 4 and a Stanley No 4 later type, Ogee frog.

The same friend that gave me the two logger's saw tools

 gave me these three  planes. I wasn't sure what to do with them, now I know.

So why on earth do I need more planes ?? Good question :-)

Well actually, I am NOT getting more planes for myself, but for my sons :-)

As we are downsizing, we asked the kids if there was anything in particular they would like from us, piece of art, furniture, whatever from our household.

I asked both if they were interested to have a kit of tools for woodworking, and they both said yes,

So, I'm putting together two tools kit for them. That should keep me occupied for a while, as I cull my "assortments" or seek other specimens to complete said kits, which the hardest part so far is to figured out just what to include!!

If you think that is easy, try making your own list. And it would have to fit in whatever cabinets or boxes I make for them. I have been struggling with such a list, my minimalist tool kit if you will,  for a while (see my first post). Chris's ATC and Hayward notwithstanding, I am still debating myself with it.

I'll show you my draft list so far tomorrow.

I did not had quite enough time to finish on my planes rescue, but the No 5 is now ready for its first sharpening job in a long time...

The Union is almost done, still need a broken tote to be fixed better than found, and the last Stanley, did not start except for blowing out the crud. That one would need new wood to fix a broken horn on the tote and a new tote screw, that original one is toasted. I probably have one somewhere...but where??

That No 5 for sure will make it to one of my son's kit, these two No 4s, not sure, I have a lot more to choose from :-)

Bob, still working on his list.