The Tool Hoarder

Hobbies No. 1 Block Plane Restoration

Aug 30, 2020 6:37:44 PM / by The Tool Hoarder

I got this little Hobbies no 1 a while back. Hobbies made these for model makers in the 1950s. It's a cast steel plane. It's 3 3/8th of an inch long (slightly shorter than a Stanley 100), with a 7/8th of an inch wide blade. Below is the best image I have found of one with the original paint.

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Mine came into my hands without a scrap of paint left.

hobbies_before

Its resting on a number 8. It is a tiny little plane.

hobbies_no_8

The sole needed a little work, but not much. 

hobbies_before_sole

Given it had not a lick of the original finish left, I decided to go shiny on this little guy. Sanded to 400 and then buffed with autosol. Here it is after.

hobbies_after

And the sole

hobbies_after_sole

It sharpened and holds an edge well. I tested it out on some scrap walnut.

hobbies_planing_0

hobbies_planing_walnut_2

You can see the right little curl in the mouth here.hobbies_tight_curl

I'm very happy with it. Its been given a few coats of Alfie Shine to try and keep the rust off, and will live in my toolwell.

Tags: Hand Planes, Tool Restoration, Hobbies

The Tool Hoarder

Written by The Tool Hoarder