PATINA September 15, 2024 Meeting featuring returning speaker Greg Ricketts

The September 2024 in-person CLUB meeting in McLean VA, will be SUNDAY September 15.  DON’T FORGET OUR NEW START TIME–9:00am!!

Back by repeated request will be Greg Ricketts.  Greg was guest speaker at a past meeting in 2022 and we are very fortunate to have him return to speak to our PATINA group.

Greg hosts a wonderful and very informative website,  A Plane Life, as well as a considerable following on social media and has posted many studies of how to collect, date and restore vintage tools. 

For the September meeting, he will present a hands-on demo focusing on “The Combination Plane: Practical Use presentation/workshop”

The attractive combination planes, such as the venerable Stanley 45, are often found unused or nearly unused.  After the excitement of purchasing one, the many screws, depths stops, rods, irons, and cams often leave their owners perplexed and the planes gathering dust.  

While these tools can be a bit intimidating, and finicky, they can also be useful and a lot of fun to use.  Greg will have a wide variety of Stanley 45 and copies of this design on display, including some very rare versions, as well as demonstrating how to sharpen, setup and put to use a variety of different irons.  This will be a hands-on event where you can put plane to wood and experience the joy of creating unusual shaving and profiles.  Don’t miss the chance to see and use the uncommon Stanley 45 hollows and rounds soles, window sash cutters (you will be helping Greg actually produce some sash for a repair he is working on), as well as the more common grooving and plough cutters.  

Join us for the fun! Several members are planning to bring their combination planes and parts to sell so this is an opportunity to see the planes perform and pick up one to use. Thanks to Matt Cottrell and John Davis for providing workbenches for the event.

Originally from Mesa, Arizona Greg grew up in a hands on, do-it-yourself household where his father built or repaired virtually everything around the house and expected the same from his son.

He studied biology and genetics at University of New Mexico while working as a scientific glass blower and glass lathe operator. He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2018 as the Director of Leadership Development and Labor.

Around the time of his retirement, he became deeply interested in cast iron bench planes and began researching the in-house brands of tools sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. from 1902 to present.

He has authored articles and/or type studies on Fulton, Merit, Dunlap, and Craftsman cast iron bench planes as well as providing instruction on traditional japanning of cast iron tools, authoring multiple articles on the subject. His web site, A Plane Life, features a free research library on antique hand tools, japanning information and products, blogs and videos on hand planes and a large number of links to other hand tool sites.

Because of his interest in Hardware and Department Store branded hand tools, He has owned, restored, and used a wide variety of manufacturers planes including Stanley Rule & Level, Siegley Tool Company, Sargent & Company, Ohio Tool Company, Union Manufacturing Company, Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett, Buckeye Saw Vise Company, Shelton, Vaughn & Bushnell, Schmachtenberg und Türck, Gebr. Kunz, Millers Falls Tool, Peck, Stowe & Wilcox, E.C. Sterns, Record, and Clifton.

He currently lives with his wife in Alexandria, Virginia in a 225-year-old historic home where the 100 year old auto garage serves as his shop.

                                                                                Greg Ricketts

As always, we will use the upper lot only for tailgating. Please park in the lower lot if you are not planning to set up a table. Start time: 9:00am for tailgating, with a mini-auction to take place approximately 12 noon.

After the tailgating and mini-auction, The club will feature the presentation and demonstration. Check back regularly to see more information.