I just spent 9 minutes watching a guy put a rag into a can.  There is only one guy that could do that and keep my interest: Paul Sellers.

I completely underestimated how much this would reduce the friction on a plane.  The first time I tried it I pushed with the usual amount of force and flopped belly first onto the bench and nearly threw my plane across the shop.

At last! A project where I definitely won't end up tearing the wood!

Wife:  lets go, we're late, wtf are you doing
Me: hold on, im learning how to put a rag into a tomato can, only 7 minutes left
Wife:  rethinks her life choices
Me: well, she left, guess i can test it out!

I am going to make Rag in a can this weekend. I am 70 years old and setting up shop in garage to make some picture frames. Been watching about one year. Made my first hand cut dove tail box. Thank God for wood filler. Franklin in Chattanooga TN.

Mr Sellers, I'm 75, been doing simple carpentry, shed-building, minor woodworking projects for over 50 years.  I've always kept an oily rag hanging on a hook, but it was always too dry (had to add oil) or too wet (...because I just added some oil).  I've tried various methods to improve my oily rag, such as rolling it up and pounding on it with a hammer to distribute the oil.  Nothing worked all that well.


Now, I subscribed to your channel for woodworking tips, sharpening tips, tool tips...but this rag-in-a-can oiler is a perfect example of why I love your videos -- simple ideas to resolve everyday issues faced by ANY man or woman with a need to use hand tools.


Thank you.

I just watched a man stuff a rag in a can for 9 minutes and I regret nothing

Brilliant idea!! I found it hard to get the rolled up fabric into the can so, I used a large screw band hose clamp around the fabric about 10-15mm above lip of the can to compress the fabric then push it in. Once pushed in loosen the clamp, move it up 15 mm and repeat. Great thing to have around.

Great idea. My wife did the cutting/rolling after she heard me saying I needed one. Thank you.

I feel very lucky to watch a man just for the way he works. You make the specific project seem like a secondary issue. The most important thing is the state of mind of the artisan. Though I'm not even a moderate hobbyist woodworker, as a farmer - mastic grower, I want to thank you for helping me so much to calibrate my state of mind and use my body effectively on my farming.  Greetings from Chios - Greece!

The can I used tended to slip on the bench top. I glued a piece of rubberized drawer liner to the bottom of the can, and now it works as intended.

Sellers, in my opinion, is such a great instructor. I think it's how he varies his tone of voice and his choice of words that keeps my attention and makes his instructions easy to follow. If my teachers growing up could hold my attention half as good as Sellers, I would've enjoyed learning and had been excited to go to school.

I’m eating beans on toast just to make one , in the bin go my oily rags thank you

It's amazing how I just watched someone stuff a shirt into a can and enjoyed the whole thing. Great job Paul. Your ability to teach is amazing. Keep up the great work

After too many years in a tiny city-centre flat I now have the workshop space and a house to fill with furniture. I  have been binge-watching your videos for the past month, I have just made a rag-in-a-can oiler. My first project; now I need to get on and make the workbench, restore an old plane, acquire a spokeshave, sharpen tools properly…
Thankyou, every moment of your presentation is informative, a pleasure to watch and listen, and learn.

Watch the price of Waitrose tinned tomatoes skyrocket...

Thanks for letting me see that demonstrated again.  It brought back memories, because it's a technique my Granddad taught me. I'm blowing my own trumpet here, but I've refined it a tad.
If you use a plastic pot instead of a tin can and warm it up a bit, the plastic expands sufficiently to get the rag in easily without all the faffing about, and contracts to hold firmly, as it cools.
In addition there is absolutely no chance of damaging tools with metal to metal contact when you use it.

This thing works great and has become a staple on my workbench ever since I heard about it. And for everyone trying to find every possible issue with it, Sellers has been using it for OVER 50 YEARS. I think if there were any issues at this point he would be well aware of it.

I'm going hunting for a can now. Many thanks Paul.

Me - An 8-minute video to put a rag in a can? Seriously?
(Clicks video)
0:35 Oh. That's a good idea...
Ends up watching an 8-minute video on stuffing a rag in a can...