Search results

But what will you do when the balloon goes up with China attacking Taiwan, resulting in sanctions on Chinese made products? Cheers, Vann.

Good on you for buying something made in your own country, instead of supporting China. Cheers, Vann.

I haven't repainted a Record vice, but I've done a few Record planes. Hammerite dark blue is a very close match to the original Record colour. It used to be available in tins as well as spray cans. I always prime/etch prime as primers/undercoats have some gap filling properties (and old habits...

I have a lot of sympathy with that stance. I refused a cellphone until my wife insisted that she be able to contact me should an earthquake like the 2011 Christchurch ones, hit us here in Wellington (built on many faultlines). I hate using my cellphone, preferring the landline and the PC. But I...

Except that (with just a few exceptions) Wadkin started their serial numbers at #105 (and I don't think the RU is one of those very few exceptions), so RU 105 would be the first production RU. I don't suppose you have a photo of that plate? Cheers, Vann.

I don't think so. A wooden jointer and a No.4 maybe - but definitely not a "block". Cheers, Vann.

No, they're across the road. Cheers, Vann.

But not on machined surfaces. Cheers, Vann.

Surface rust on machined cast iron surfaces is best shaved off. I use a plastic scraper of the sort that uses a Stanley knife blade. Once shaved then move to the 3M scouring pads, or steel wool with a lubricant (I use WD40). Rust on rough cast iron surfaces can be removed with a powered wire...

There aren't many 100year old 78s made since Stanley went metric in the 1990s (30 odd years ago) 😉. Cheers, Vann.

The current ones may be metric. I believe Stanley bench plane threads went metric in the 1990s. I'd be surprised if the No.78 was still imperial (but I've been wrong before). Cheers, Vann.

But you're going to leave us hanging...

I'm having difficulty with search engines, because North Americans don't call them "planer/thicknessers", but "under/overs" - however I found this one which is probably the best out there 1941 Wadkin RM 26" jointer over 24" planner - Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement Forum...

You called sir? It's a Wadkin RM planer/thicknesser. This one, Test No. 48913, was tested new at the Wadkin factory in Green Lane, Leicester, in 1954 They came in three widths - 16"; 20" and 24" wide - that's the maximum capacity of the thicknesser. The planner on top has an additional two...

I believe oak reacts with steel/iron, as Mark said. I have no idea if stainless steel also reacts, or not. Pre-drilling sounds very advisable. Cheers, Vann.

The cap screw thread is the ONLY standard Whitworth thread on the whole plane. Stanley began making planes before there was such a thing as "standard" threads. Each manufacturer would select whatever thread count they felt appropriate for the application. By sheer co-incidence, the 5/16"...

Stay-cap irons are something you'll love, or you'll hate. There appears to be no middle ground. Personally I'm a fan, but many very experienced woodworkers won't have a bar of them. If you do decide to go for a stay-set, they are often marked with an "SS" on the lever cap. But lever caps and...

Older ones are considered to be better. Look for one that has the straight sided frog (1931 to late 1950s). That's not to say later ones are no good, but QC did suffer in later years so your chance of getting a carp one is greater. HTH. Cheers, Vann.

I have the desktop working again. Here's my 1928 Preston Woodworking Machinery Co. - Canada (also sold in UK as Wadkin FF), bandsaw. As bought. And with original (actually 1960s replacement) refurbished switchgear. Crabtree B-15 DOL starter, and MEM 315 isolating switch. Also new (old) metal...

I reuse the old switchgear on all my old Wadkins. It's usually very well built and will almost certainly outlast anything modern. I do check out everything to make sure it's still safe (not as safe as modern gear - tbough probably safer if I ran into it with a forklift) and refurbish the case...