Popular Woodworking 2003-08 № 135, страница 10

Popular Woodworking 2003-08 № 135, страница 10

Some projects

require a whole

How-to book. You'll just need

thfs little ad*

Protect and add luster to your wood floors. Do-it-yourself, and do-it-with-ease.

Sand floors quickly and easily with Varathane's revolutionary, dust-free ezVTM Sander.

If you wish to add color to your floors, apply the stain color of your choice.

2. Stain (Optional)

Apply Varathane Premium Polyurethane for Floors; over twice as durable as other finishes for the ultimate in wood floor protection.

3. Protect

Floors this beautiful have never been so easy.

For a free brochure, go to www.varathane.com.

•v.v yv

1\\ HV, ^ vML/,

; mm.

■')

mm

©2003 Rust-Oleum Corporation

CIRCLE NO. 120 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD.

Letters

What About the European Planes?

Smoothing Plane Article Neglected the Reform-style Handplanes

When I anxiously turned to read your story on smoothing planes (June 2003), I was disappointed for Popular Woodworking readers that E.C.E.'s 711 Primus smoothing plane was not mentioned. Except for our advertisement on page 95, your readers would not know a much less expensive option existed. Or, even worse, your omission of E.C.E.'s highly regarded and popular smoother might be seen as a negative comment.

Your readers may have liked to know that the Primus adjustment offers positive action and doesn't require you to "retract the iron. Now advance the iron until it takes the slightest cut." There is no such slop in the Primus 711's depth-adjustment system to contend with.

Unlike metal planes, E.C.E. planes' soles do not have to be waxed with paraffin, as you describe. Lignum vitae wood is self-oiling; the plane's sole becomes slick with use.

Our 649-P Pocket Plane also is considered a miniature smoothing plane because the iron is bedded at 50°.

Dave Warren David Warren Direct E.C. Emmerich, U.S. representative

Editor's note: In hindsight we should have mentioned that reform planes such as the Primus are indeed an option for people who want a wooden plane with a mechanical adjuster (and adjustable throat in some cases). To be truthful, I use mostly traditional metal-bodied planes, and those are what I chose to focus on because I know them best. As a result, I also didn't discuss Rali smoothing planes, traditional Japanese pull planes, Terry Gordon's Australian planes or any of the other Eastern-style planes (Taiwanese-style, Hong Kong-style, etc.).

As to the lack of backlash in the Primus's adjusting mechanism, I agree that it is nice. However, avoiding backlash is not why I recommend start

Popular Woodworking August 2003

ing with the iron retracted and then advancing it to the correct depth. Instead, making test cuts with the iron extended too far tends to chew up your work. No matter what sort of plane you use, I recommend you begin with the iron retracted and advance from there.

— Christopher Schwarz, executive editor

Be Sure to Use Photo-safe Pages in the Heirloom Photo Album Project

In the April 2003 issue, Steve Shanesy wrote an interesting article, "Heirloom Photo Album." While the finished product looks nice, it can possibly cause severe damage to the photos stored in it.

For proper storage of photos, it is necessary to use archival materials to prevent image degradation over time. For proper storage of photos, it is necessary to use materials that are acid-free. Wood does not meet this requirement due to its high acidity.

In "Storage and Care of KODAK Photographic Materials: Tech Pub E-30," the Eastman Kodak Co. warns that "Fumes from ... mildew inhibitors, wood preservatives, paints, varnishes and wood glues can contaminate drawers and harm photographic materials." This publication also states, "All mounting boards, interleaving paper, album covers and pages, and plastic sleeves and continued on page 10

WRITE TO US

Popular Woodworking welcomes letters from readers with questions or comments about the magazine or woodworking in general.We try to respond to all correspondence. Published letters may be edited for length or style.All letters become the property of Popular Woodworking. How to send your letter:

• E-mail: popwood@fwpubs.com

• Fax:513-891-7196

• Mail carrier:

Letters • Popular Woodworking

4700 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236

8