am I becoming a plane nut?

[Richard T]

Oh 'El! 8-[

 

[Scouse]

If Alf said it's a thing of beauty (and she did, if you ignore the other extraneous words she used... :-" ) that's enough for me!

Oh 'El! 8-[

You sound like my mum! There's a related question on your infill thread, Richard...

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a goldrush to buy Planemasters now, like when Chris Schwarz tells Americans to buy plough planes etc...

El.

 

[Richard T]

If you ignore the other extraneous words she used .... like "of" and "beauty" we're left with "It's a thing." And I couldn't agree more.

Really though, it would be interesting to see how a "proper stuff" chap such as yourself gets on with using one. Not quite as much fun, maybe, as watching Jacob driving an infill but interesting nevertheless.

 

[jimi43]

Ok....don't worry Scouse mate...I will PM you the name of a good psychiatrist..... :mrgreen: :wink:

Jim


.....no wait...if you just take that top bit off and then...um...no scratch that...um...if you were to take lever A and fit it to...nah...ok...PM sent! :mrgreen:

 

[condeesteso]

Actually Ellis you are right, I concede. Five blades, it's a bit of a looker and it cost less than the Stanley. But does Roy Underhill use one. I think not :wink:

 

[Scouse]

But does Roy Underhill use one. I think not :wink:

He has got one, but he keeps quiet so the price of spare blades won't go up; 3 shillings is a weeks wages, you know... :wink: :mrgreen:

 

[condeesteso]

Only one real conclusion here Ellis.

It's a thing.

Cherish the thing.

 

[condeesteso]

Re-activating an old thread. Just got given an early English Stanley 4 1/2. Not at all bad!! Laminated blade, nice stiff cap. Nasty stained beech knob & tote, but working rather well. I have some very nice cherry set aside for a new tote and knob, but I need one of Liogier's smaller rasps to profile the tote. That will be ordered soon, then I plan to smarten this plane up a bit. Then probably sell it on as it's one too many. Will post pics when I can start the tote etc. No respect to originality here, just make it look fab.
The Marples woodie jointer recently acquired for £10 and is working v well... massive blade and cap, sole was untrue (slight twist) but soon sorted with the Lie 62 (ironic, that).
But the early Stanley... Made in England indeed. Well I should have one of those at least and it does work very well!

 

[jimi43]

Unusual for you to venture over the Pond for ancient Stanleys Douglas.... :mrgreen:

I must say...your tuning of the old woodie jointer did you proud...just as it should be...or better!

For now I am totally avoiding the "woodie slope".....that's deeper than the Mariana Trench!

Jim

:deer

 

[Scouse]

I've no experience with English Stanleys, tending more toward Records, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

The general consensus on here in the past has been that they were ever so slightly not as good as their blue competitors and slightly more not as good as their US stablemates. Having said that I do have a soft spot for a sad old car boot Acorn no.5, apparently made by Stanley as a cheaper alternative, but it just gets used for roughing.

For now I am totally avoiding the "woodie slope".....

Sounds like you are already at base camp for that slope and planning an assault on 'Denial Ridge'!!! :mrgreen:

El.

 

[Richard T]

Douglas wrote " I need one of Liogier's smaller rasps"

That's a great statement. I probably "need" three ....
I'll see how the cash situation is after all this Christmas stuff.

 

[RogerP]

...... The general consensus on here in the past has been that they were ever so slightly not as good as their blue competitors and slightly more not as good as their US stablemates.

For what it's worth the English Stanley 5 made casting is a little thicker so the plane that is slightly heavier than the USA counterpart. The number 5 is the only model I have both US and English variants.

 

[condeesteso]

Yes, it's an odd one as all my old planes (indeed all the new ones too :wink: ) are American. Only exceptions were 2 excellent Records, both SS, a 4 1/2 and a 6. Anyway will see how good it can be got, and make it pretty. Damn, it's just cost me 2 Liogiers under the excuse banner that I needed the half-round to make the tote. So I'm a hundred quid down and I can blame this Stanley...
Anyway, season's greetings to all the plane nuts out there.

 

[Benchwayze]

Ahuuum! We can easily have more tools than we need, but we can never have too many that we don't


John :ho2

 

[condeesteso]

Here's the Stan 4 1/2 then. I couldn't wait for the Liogiers so struggled on the tote with nasty old machined rasps etc.

Spent the first while tuning til I was happy it actually worked OK, only then would I spend time on a knob and tote. But it works well - the blade is a nice laminate, cap seating very well, frog well-bedded etc. Sole was near flat but a tads high at toe, so got lapped, It's set-up as a smoother with slight camber, but can take 15 thou shavings happily (it's hard work though, a calorie burner):

The knob is cherry from a large branch, hence knotty - but well seasoned and has character. The tote is cherry, off the end of a board and a bit wild. The grain works in favour of the tote shape though (note the grain flow over the top, where they usually break):

And here it is actually working for a living - flatting a 6 x 2 ash board 7 feet long:

Have to say I like it, and I am impressed with it's build and performance. I can't say it's better than the Record SS as I don't think it is. And I rate the SS blade assembly for stiffness. But it is rather good. They can be picked up very cheaply - recommended if you want a quality bargain and are happy doing a bit of tuning. The knob and tote work is obviously not necessary, but it sure looks pretty

 

[No skills]

Nice job.

8)

 

[jimi43]

Just proves how nice these old classics can be when tarted up a bit.

I must say that cherry has some beautiful figuring and a very nice job with the shapes mate!

Excellent all around!

Jim

 

[Richard T]

Cracking job Douglas - that back handle looks the business for shape. Nice grain too.

Having made practice handles from both straight board and the middle of a fork, I am firmly of the opinion that the more interesting and complicated the grain, the better it is for plane handles. As you mention, with good planning the horn can be very much stronger with mad grain than the usual swept - straight - back.

 

[condeesteso]

Thanks Jim and Skills. It got me out of the house over boxing day. Yes Richard - I think the messy grain all directions is a plus on the tote, just need to take a look and orientate the grain to best advantage. Having that piece around was more luck than judgement but I'd do that again (wild grain for a tote). It's a part of hand-made again I think, as production can't do that. Looking forward to getting some Liogiers as those cheap rasps are tricky - they track very badly.
b/t/w - saw blades on the way next day or two (hope the workshop's warmed up a bit). Ooooh, did you notice the plural there :wink: Pack in bulk - save the planet.