You were right, I am hooked

[Gecko]

I just aquired 5 planes today that were my grandfathers. They are in rough condition but I am excited to see what I can do with them. The first one I am starting with is a Craftsman No 3704, the lowest end one. Practice there first before I do the 100 year old Stanleys. ;) It does have a Stanley blade in it. Is there anyway to roughly date the Craftsman? I can't find much info on them. BTW, pitures at http://www.thedragonslair.com/craftsman_3704_index.htm for those who are interested.

[Kendemp]

Hoo boy, got your work cut out for you there.

Might be a good one to use electrolysis on.

Here is an old socket chisel I found at a junk sale in Rockport Mass., right by the ocean. electrolysis-ized it, sharpend it up and turned a handle. Pretty rusty to start, came out pretty nice, and very useable.
Before
http://www.woodworking.com/dcforum/User_files/40f34fcd0d408ea2.jpg
After
http://www.woodworking.com/dcforum/User_files/40f34ff30b888fb5.jpg

Good luck, keep updates coming.

Ken

[Sawduster]

From the pics, I don't know that that one will be salvageable. If the pitting on the sole is very deep, it may have to end up in a shadow box on display. Even electrolysis can't put back missing metal. You need to be most concerned about any deep pitting around the mouth. While a lot of folks swear that you have to get the sole completely flat and smooth, I have not found that to be the case. Witness the corrugated planes. Some of those actually had corrugations that swirled in "S" shapes down the length of the sole. I've a Stanley block similar to that one which had deep gouges toward the toe end of the sole. Smoothed out the protrusions and it is a great user.

Anyway, would like to see of the others. Those that come from past generations of your family are treasures.