Woodies

[MIGNAL]

In my quest to acquire the worlds cheapest collection of Planes I got off to a splendid start when somebody kindly donated an old wooden Jack. Very nice it works too.
I'm afraid I had to hit Ebay to extend my collection:




8" smoother, 5 " mini smoother. The 8" plane really is in wonderful condition. All I really had to do was clean off with turps and sharpen the blade! I doubt it had much use at all. In fact I can still make out the stamp that states: 'Guaranteed English Beech'.
The front is marked 'Master', the back states the blade size. It's a very well made Plane.That blade is by Earnshaw, double iron. It Planes extremely well. I tried it on some swirly Ebony and not only did it produce fantastic shavings but it French Polished the wood as well! Sorry about that; all you Lie Nielsen/Veritas owners.
The 5" came in poor condition and is 'restored', single iron that needs more work. There's also another 5" woodie (single iron) that needs work.
99p for the three Planes.

 

[Grahamshed]

99p for the three Planes.

I hate it when you millionaires start flashing your cash about. We cannot all afford such luxuries.

 

[AndyT]

According to Goodman, Master was the brand name of AB Salmen's Successors of London. They carried on making planes until 1967, having started in 1926. So your plane may be relatively recent. As a user, that's a good thing - it has plenty of life left in it.

 

[MIGNAL]

Thanks for the info AndyT. I did suspect that it was relatively recently made. That doesn't bother me one bit. The quality of the cut on the chamfers and the rest of the Plane really is first rate. The mouth is super tight. The Beech is very fine grained. All suggest top quality.

 

[bugbear]

That blade is by Earnshaw, double iron.

Could you (please) post a photo of the stamp?

BugBear

 

[MIGNAL]

Not very clear. I'll get a more in focus pic later on. It's not entirely clear anyway. it actually states: Earnshaw Bros, cast steel, Sheffield.

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

It might just be down to photographic forshortening , but the iron in the 8inch smoother looks quite upright. Is it York pitch or something higher?

Mike.

 

[bugbear]

Not very clear. I'll get a more in focus pic later on. It's not entirely clear anyway. it actually states: Earnshaw Bros, cast steel, Sheffield.

I think Salman used to fit "Pharaoh" stamped blades - I suspect your blade is a (superior) replacement.

BugBear

 

[MIGNAL]

May well be. It's a very good blade going by how sharp I can get it and the edge seems to last a decent length of time.
Seemed to laugh at that piece of Ebony. I can't fault the Plane itself. I've checked the blade bed and it's remarkably flat, even after 30 odd years. Everything has been cut very cleanly, even at the bottom of the wedge abutments where you often see a little rough work. The opening to the mouth is a glint of light, even right across the width of the blade.
The blade is at 47.5 degrees.

 

[Corneel]

That's a very fine plane. I'm jelous

 

[condeesteso]

4 months now Mignal - how is it going, the cheapest collection of planes in the World?
Personally I reckon you'll do it. So many around, so little time.
I have a similar vintage Marples jack (complete with label on side) and I agree the later ones can be very good indeed, especially if hardly used. Another thing about woodies is that they almost always have really good blades. That one I am modifying has a thick forge-laminated Hearnshaw (or is it a Ward, will check) - you cannot really buy blades like that now, certainly not for a few quid.
One small question that pops up - if it is going to be a collection, how will you know when it is complete?

 

[MIGNAL]

I've stopped. Just waiting for the next donation but someone did give me a whole bunch of saws (that Tyzack, Groves included!), moulding Planes and a Zyliss vice that I have to pick up. All gratis.
I ain't spending another penny on this woodworking thing!! 8) Makes up for all the junk I've bought over the years.

PS. I'm tempted by the Japanese frame saw blade though. . .

 

[condeesteso]

2 points: does free qualify as 'cheapest'... it's like inheriting a house, say.
Re the framesaw blade, do you want it back? - I got some way with the frame but paused on the blade mount hardware, then got distracted :shock:

 

[MIGNAL]

Keep that one Douglas.
I still haven't decided whether I'm going to buy the ECE, saw and blade complete - buy the Japanese blade and make my own or do my usual, nothing lazy self!
I made this one . . . 6 or so years back:



I guess it's a bit sad that I'm putting off making a larger version. Motivation (or lack), I'll put it down to advancing years! Oh to regain a bit of youth.
Be that as it may. If I actually do decide to make one I'll let everyone know!

 

[MMUK]

Oh to regain a bit of youth.

Do what I did, trade SWMBO in for a younger model. It works wonders :mrgreen: