Hand Plane PROBLEM SOLVER

First aid for a No. 4 (and more). With about an hour’s worth of TLC, you can transform a flea-market find into a top-notch tool.

I’ve lost count of the number of planes that I’ve brought back from the brink, but if I added up the tools that I’ve bought, plus the orphans that have been left in boxes outside my door, the number would hit quadruple digits. Surprisingly, I’m still eager to resuscitate the next plane that lands on my bench. Some might consider me an old-tool addict, but what’s wrong with the rush that comes from bringing new life to an old tool, or helping a fellow woodworker put a cherished hand-me-down back into service? Emotions aside, hand planes are more than just historical artifacts. With a little know-how and a healthy helping of elbow grease, most can be turned into practical tools for any modern-day wood shop.

I don’t endorse the “they don’t make ‘em like they used to,” mantra, but I know that savvy shoppers can buy a good vintage plane for a fractionbe put back to work with about the same amount of effort as prepping a new tool.