My #4 Stanley Bailey Plane Builds Up Static
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- This topic has 52 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 5 years ago by Gary Mercer.
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18 February 2019 at 11:15 pm #555185
My preference in wood is oak, which I am not wasting on my testing. It also does the same thing with oak. This seems to be a topic that in my over 50 years of woodworking, I have never seen happen, but it clings especially bad when I produce the wispy thin shavings. I just want to find a solution.
I have tuned my #3, #4 and #5 planes…Frog, lever cap, iron, and chip breaker, sole, to perfection. They plane flawlessly. I use the rag in a can lubricating all the parts using 3 in one oil. The rag in the can is a rolled cotton sock.
This static problem has gone on for quite some time, and thinking back I don’t remember years ago having this occur back when I was just a hack at sharpening and could never get the extremely honed and stropped edge I get now…but I’ll never go back to the unrefined cutting edge. I have even contacted Paul, and he has never had that problem.
19 February 2019 at 2:57 am #555188Have you tried planing without using the oil in a can?
Have you tried planing outside the house?
Have you taken your planes to someones house and see if the problem exists?
Have you tried planing at someone else house with their planes?
Have you tried planing at your house with their planes……not using your oil in a can?
Are you using the same brand of tomato can as Paul? OK that’s just an attempt at a little humor.Just thinking out loud. You may have tried all this already. As with most things like this…….the cause will be pretty obvious once you know what it is.
Jim
19 February 2019 at 2:14 pm #555218[quote quote=555186]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatics[/quote]
I am sure the answer may be in here somewhere?
19 February 2019 at 2:53 pm #555219[quote quote=555188]Have you tried planing without using the oil in a can?
Have you tried planing outside the house?
Have you taken your planes to someones house and see if the problem exists?
Have you tried planing at someone else house with their planes?
Have you tried planing at your house with their planes……not using your oil in a can?
Are you using the same brand of tomato can as Paul? OK that’s just an attempt at a little humor.
Just thinking out loud. You may have tried all this already. As with most things like this…….the cause will be pretty obvious once you know what it is.
Jim[/quote]
Jim, Since I am the only one I know personally doing woodworking, using someone else’s plane is out. I may try removing all the oil from one of my planes using alcohol, but I don’t think that is the problem since Paul Sellers indicated he has never had this problem. On another note I don’t slather the oil onto the plane constantly, I use it sparingly, and occasionally. My oil can is a mushroom can with a Hanes tube sock inserted.
I will try planning outside another day, but right now it’s 11f degrees outside.
My son will be visiting tomorrow…I may have him do some planning, just to see if it occurs when he planes wood.
Another thought I have that I may try…I have a wallpaper steamer, and I may try to up the moisture content throughout my shop by running it. My concern is…my shop is small (13’x 19′) and crammed with all my tools…and I don’t want the condensation to cause rust. I may hold out as a last effort.
- This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Gary Mercer.
20 February 2019 at 3:07 pm #555242You might try just misting your wood you are planeing just a spritz. Not enough to change the moisture content.
I do not usually have that problem but we had a cool day yesterday and i had more static cling than usual. I had some real dry pine and finishing the surface. The shaveings were pretty clngy.20 February 2019 at 5:13 pm #555255I am going to have my son try planning when he comes over today. The weather is going to be milder this coming weekend, so I will try outside with the wood clamped in my workmate. I decided to wait on using the wallpaper steamer as a last resort due to the risk of condensation to other shop equipment in my shop. I appreciate your reported findings Dean, and I am committed on resolving this frustrating dilemma. I’ll keep posting until I find a solution.
20 February 2019 at 6:00 pm #555256Just a question. Will you or will you not admit to your son that you were planing naked? And, will he remove from your possession all of the edged tools?
21 February 2019 at 12:01 am #555259[quote quote=555256]Just a question. Will you or will you not admit to your son that you were planing naked? And, will he remove from your possession all of the edged tools?[/quote]
Ha Ha, I already told him….remember, this is a science quest, and I’ll go where necessary to get a satisfactory answer…including naked outside, although clothes didn’t seem to be a factor.
21 February 2019 at 11:14 pm #555273Update: Today the temp 40f, humidity 56%, should be perfect for non static planing in the garage. I clamped a board into my workmate and became sorely disappointed when I got the same results. I get some nice shavings and when I turn the plane…and even shake it, they stick with static…then when I pull them off with my fingers, they stick with static to my fingers, and it takes quite a flick to get them off my hand. What a disappointment! I would have thought that with a humidity of 56% that it would solve it…but no difference. Any other thoughts?
Note: It was a little nippy to try this naked today, although I doubt it would matter.
22 February 2019 at 2:05 pm #555289Yes 40f would be cause for caution lol. I’ve been quiet entertained by your determination in this matter. I wonder, if it’s not too prying to ask, but do you by chance have a pacemaker?
22 February 2019 at 2:59 pm #555293[quote quote=555289]Yes 40f would be cause for caution lol. I’ve been quiet entertained by your determination in this matter. I wonder, if it’s not too prying to ask, but do you by chance have a pacemaker?[/quote]
No pacemaker, although I do have a mesh in my belly from hernia repair. At 40f I didn’t feel like standing on the concrete barefooted either. My son hasn’t been over yet due to scheduling conflicts. I am curious to see if he creates static when he planes. My wife thinks the extent I am going is humorous also, but she understands…Bless her.
16 March 2019 at 3:41 pm #555570UPDATE: I am happy to report that yesterday I did some planning in my shop with no static cling. The humidity was 42%…so that seems to be the magic number. I want to thank everyone for participating in this endeavor. This is quite frustrating to me to have this happen, and although humorous at times…I sincerely appreciate everyone’s participation. Thanks again, Gary.
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