I’m a power tool guy at heart, however I have come to the realization that some tasks are easier with hand tools. For example, face/edge jointing large cumbersome boards. With that in mind, I’ve been learning about hand planes & their uses. Earlier this week I came across this plane on eBay, it’s a Stanley type 13(1925-1928) #3 smooth plane. Since it looked to be in good shape, I placed my bid and waited. Since it’s a fairly common plane, & not in pristine condition I picked it up for $21.50. The following pictures show what it looked like when it arrived on my door step. All I need to do now is clean it up.
It’s been over 3 weeks sine my last post, so I think it’s time I give everyone an update. Since my last post, I have been diglently jointing, planing and gluing up boards for my bench tops. It’s boring work so I will spare you the details, but the good news is I’m done with that phase of the project. I’m now into the flatening phase, but thats for a different post.
Thus without further ado the photos .
About half way done with one top
A close up
One glue-up done, one to go.
Last week I promised I would provide an updated MC histogram, so Friday night a broke out the moisture meter and took some readings. I found it really interesting, that in only 6 days some of the boards had shown significant changes in MC.
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Now that the steel bases for my work benches are welded together, I can start working on the wood tops. Yesterday my friend Stuart & I made a trip to Menards to pick up the wood I needed. After about an hour of sorting through the lumber rack, we had picked out 14 decent 2″ x 12″ x 14′ Southern yellow pine boards. After we got them back to my place, we cut them in half for stacking and stickering. I thought 275 board feet of lumber would make a bigger pile, than it actually did.
stacked & stickered
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I finally got time to finish welding my workbench legs today. I really underestimated the amount of time it was going to take. Though it was more work than I expected, I enjoyed it, and my weld skills are much better now than when I started. Next up is making the Sothern yellow pine tops, so stay tuned.
