Are you supposed to take extreme care not to touch the cast iron on
planes (ie. the soles) or the steel of chisels? I don't mean rubbing
your mud-smeared paws all over them, but simply picking them up and
putting them back in the tool cabinet, with clean, dry hands. Thanks.

JP

On 27 Dec 2005 18:47:19 -0800, "Jay Pique" wrote:

Are you supposed to take extreme care not to touch the cast iron on
planes (ie. the soles) or the steel of chisels? I don't mean rubbing
your mud-smeared paws all over them, but simply picking them up and
putting them back in the tool cabinet, with clean, dry hands. Thanks.

JP

Given that one often touches the steel and bodies when using the tools, I
don't know why that would be an issue. Just keep them well-waxed and
cared-for.



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If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

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"Jay Pique" wrote in message
ups.com...
Are you supposed to take extreme care not to touch the cast iron on
planes (ie. the soles) or the steel of chisels? I don't mean rubbing
your mud-smeared paws all over them, but simply picking them up and
putting them back in the tool cabinet, with clean, dry hands. Thanks.


The secret is paste wax, but, in fact, if you don't touch the shiny parts
any more than is essential, it's, as Martha says, a good thing. What we
consider clean, dry hands, polished cast iron considers wet, salty and maybe
acidic.

"Jay Pique" wrote in message
ups.com...
Are you supposed to take extreme care not to touch the cast iron on
planes (ie. the soles) or the steel of chisels? I don't mean rubbing
your mud-smeared paws all over them, but simply picking them up and
putting them back in the tool cabinet, with clean, dry hands. Thanks.


Don't leave your sweaty body acids on them. They'll etch. I do a wipe with
WD40 before putting them back on the shelf. Probably overkill, but keeps
them nice.

On 27 Dec 2005 18:47:19 -0800, "Jay Pique" wrote:

Are you supposed to take extreme care not to touch the cast iron on
planes (ie. the soles) or the steel of chisels?

I don't bother about this, except in the height of summer when I'm
literally dripping sweat.

OTOH, I have a friend who once managed to etch fingerprints into the
chrome plate of a lathe's handwheels. We don't even let him handle the
titanium any more. BTW - he's a smoker.