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Last updated on
11 February, 2007
Restoring a Spiers plane -
replacing the handle.
This Spiers
smoother is one I bought for a reasonable price at the last Melbourne tool
sale. It had the handle badly replace with one made in beech, with 2 screws up
from the bottom...very ugly indeed, and loose as well. The original infill
looks very pale for rosewood, it may have been be bleached by the sun, it
might even be walnut, it looks more pale brown than rosewood usually is. The
last little bit left of the handle was dark red / brown rosewood. The stuff I
have is purple / brown....not a good match to the pale stuff already there. I
have some dark, very heavy Australian Blackwood, and thought it would make the
best match. I don't finish the new handle like a new plane, leaving it a bit
rough, in keeping with the age of the plane. I mix a variety of different
coloured spirit wood dies to get the colour
close. This plane was made with a surprisingly thick handle, so I built the
new one the same thickness. It does feel comfortably solid in the hand.
click on the images for a larger picture.
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I removed the badly done beech
handle as soon as I had a screwdriver in my hand, into the bin immediately.
I don't like to remove any rivets, it is almost impossible to redo them
without it looking obvious. |
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| The Spiers
rear infill is in constructed in three pieces. The bottom which is level
with the top edge of the sides and glued to that a top plate above the
sides, and the handle mortised into the bottom piece. To avoid removing
the rivet pin I drill out the remainder of the handle base, then chisel
away the waste from around the pin. The wood usually just breaks away
easily. This one had a cavity behind the thickening plate that is riveted
to the base behind the mouth. |
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| I draw
around an original Spiers handle of a similar vintage, and just cut it
out with a jig-saw, and saw and plane it to the correct width. |
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| Work on
the outline to get a good profile before the rounding is started. |
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| Test fit
the handle for the size of the mortise. |
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| Go to it
with rasps...then cut the slot to go around the rivet pin, and trim to
length. |
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| Trial fit. looks
good. |
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| Nice snug
fit. |
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| In with
the glue, and tap the handle in with a mallet until it seats home. |
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| A
final work over with a file, sandpaper, steel wool, and a mixture of
spirit dies to try and match the wood colour. I got pretty close with
the colour, and it looks like it belongs. The rivet hasn't been tampered
with, that would really mar the overall look if it was replaced and shinny.
I don't like these planes shined up like a diamond ring, I prefer to do
that to jewellery.
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email me peter@petermcbride.com
or phone +61
3 9779 5266.
Mobile phone +61 4 1951 8357
In Australia (03) 9779 5266, Mobile. 0419 518357
PO
Box 6020 East Ringwood, Victoria 3135, AUSTRALIA.
Copyright © Peter McBride 2004
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