Aside from skill, knowledge, and sharpness, what is the secret making all hand tools, whether be saw, plane, or chisel work better? As Roy Underhill tells us, it’s grease! Early European woodworkers used mutton tallow, or rendered mutton fat, to lubricate saw plates, the soles of planes, and chisels. Today there are many recipes for grease, from pure mutton tallow to combinations of beeswax. I personally use a 4:2:1 mixture of turpentine, boiled linseed oil, and beeswax to make my grease. I like the smell.
Roy also advocates keeping one’s grease in an appropriate container, a grease box! His dovetailed grease box is quite popular amongst the woodworking community. Being a funeral director, I decided to veer off the beaten path…
Made of mahogany, my grease box measures 4-1/2” long, 1-1/2” wide, and 1-1/4” high.
Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor
Looks good, Ron! I must admit, my grease box hasn’t yet been used enough to saturate the wood yet, which means it dries out more quickly than it ought, which means I use it less than I ought. Chicken, meet egg.
Looks good, Ron! I must admit, my grease box hasn’t yet been used enough to saturate the wood yet, which means it dries out more quickly than it ought, which means I use it less than I ought. Chicken, meet egg.
Thanks, Dave. You should consider soaking it in a jar of linseed oil for a few days before loading it with grease.
Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor
Nicely done Ron and very fitting. I have a vintage metal grease pot, so I've never been tempted to make one. I must admit that I don't really use grease on my tools though because I find it a bit messy. I am however, a big advocate of the rag-in-a-can. I use that for nearly all my edge tools. Once you've filled it up and it settles down, it puts such a thin layer of oil on your tools that mess isn't an issue.
Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.
Hey, I know Mafe left LJ after the changeover. Has anyone heard from him since? If so let him know a bunch have transferred here, maybe he will come back.
Nicely done Ron and very fitting. I have a vintage metal grease pot, so I've never been tempted to make one. I must admit that I don't really use grease on my tools though because I find it a bit messy. I am however, a big advocate of the rag-in-a-can. I use that for nearly all my edge tools. Once you've filled it up and it settles down, it puts such a thin layer of oil on your tools that mess isn't an issue.
Thanks! I too use the rag in a can. I have mine charged with mineral oil. I use it in all my saws and metal planes. I keep the grease for my wooden planes.
I just saw Paul’s video about the rag-in-a-can about a week ago! Interesting to see it come up here… given that, I made one today! Pretty much followed his instructions to the letter. I did use a hose clamp to tighten the roll down and stuff it deeper. I soaked it with 3-in-1, as he said, and will do it again tomorrow…then give it a day or so and see how it goes! It’s a bit tall, but I think it’ll slough down as it gets used.
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Recharging it today and then I’ve got to go back on shift, which should be enough time for it to distribute appropriately I would think. So, no one has seen any issues with it affecting finish right? I keep reading it doesn’t but something about using oil makes me weary.
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
