The next meeting of the Guild will be on February 16, 2021 via Zoom. The presenter will be Gregg Ricketts. The subject of his presentation is Restoring Hand Planes.
Shelf Sitter or Shelf Maker? Now that you acquired a rusty old hand plane, what are you going to do with it? No matter what you call it, preservation, conservation, restoration, rehabilitation, renewal, or overhauling, setting goals is the first step in recovering an antique cast iron hand plane. Once you decide how your hand plane should look, deciding on the best methods for achieving that final appearance is the key to success. From elbow grease to electrolysis, acid to media blasting, Greg will discuss various techniques to help you achieve your goals.
Originally from the southwestern US, Greg’s career as a manager in the Federal Aviation Administration led him to Washington D.C. in 2009. Falling in love with the lush green of the east coast, he stayed put after retirement, residing in an historic home in Alexandria, Virginia, where his workshop inhabits his 130-year old original carriage house.
Greg became interested in cast iron bench planes after retirement and began researching the in‑house brands of hand planes sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. from 1902 to present. He authored articles and/or type studies on Fulton, Merit, Dunlap, and Craftsman brands of cast iron bench planes. As with many antique tool enthusiasts, he was interested in recreating the japan black finish on these tools. After several years of research and experimentation, he became proficient in the art of japanning. In addition to japanning antique tools for clients, he provides instruction on traditional japanning of cast iron tools and has written multiple articles on the subject.
Because of Greg’s interest in Hardware and Department Store branded hand tools, he owned, restored, and used a wide variety of manufacturers planes including Stanley Works, Siegley Tool Company, Sargent & Company, Ohio Tool Company, Union Manufacturing Company, Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett, Buckeye Saw Vise Company, Shelton, Vaughn & Bushnell, Schmachtenberg und Türck, Gebr. Kunz, Millers Falls Tool, Peck, Stowe & Wilcox, E.C. Sterns, Record, and Clifton.