Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi All,
Just wanted to share my recent craigslist.com (I love that site, actually sold my car using it to advertise about a month ago!) pick up. It is a Sargent V-B-M 3416 Wood bottom Jack plane that I got for $10. As you can see from the pics it is in a bit of disrepair but with a little elbow grease I think I can get it into working order. I did some internet seaching and found out that it was in production from 1891-1901 or 1918 depending on whether it is a type I or not (not sure how to determine that). As an antique it is valued from $20-$80, again depending on whether it is a type I or not. I am estatic to have something that old!!.... and once I get some of the rust off of it and the blade sharpened...that I can still put to use! The lady I bought if from said that her grandfather was a woodwooder who made grandfather clocks, I'm guessing its betting sitting in the shed or barn for quite awhile though.

Anyway, thought I would share. If anybody knows anything about these planes I would love to hear it. I was also wondering what kind of a finish the original wood bottom had on it. From my research they are said to have had a heavy finish on the sole, recommondations on what to use would be much appreciated.
Thanks for looking!





p.s. (to the administrators) If I should have posted this in the off topics please feel free to move it

Sweet score. I love old tools. I'll bet it will work very well when you get it tuned.

AJ-
Old tools are a lot of fun and, for me, there is usually a nice (imagined?) 'vibe' when using them. Nice find!

It looks like the sole will need a bit of work to get it reasonably flat (I wouldn't get too obsessive about that..). Be careful, as removing wood from the sole will tend to open up the mouth of the plane. It's fairly common to have to inlay a 'patch' to tighten up the mouth a bit, though if you are gong to use this as a scrub-type plane, it's not much of an issue.

My impression/recollection is that wood plane bodies were generally treated/soaked in oil (linseed? or tung aka 'Danish' nowadays?). You really don't want any 'finish' on the sole/sides surface as it will get worn off quite rapidly on your work, so some sort of 'penetrating' finish is the way to go.

Cheers
John

It looks like a good buy! Let us know how it shaves!

_________________
Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Don't you just love getting a new old tool? I was at a car show last weekend and picked up a Stanley 60 1/2 block plane for $5.

Enjoy your "new" tool. Get 'er sharpened up shaving sharp and have fun making curlies.

Darrin