Bedrock Planes - now For Sale

[Karl]

hi folks

Just a quick question - should the lever cap on a Stanley Bedrock plane have "Bedrock" written on it rather than "Stanley"???

Ones I have seen all seem to have BEDROCK.

Or is there a transition period where they switched from one to another?

Cheers

Karl

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Karl,

This link might give you some answers http://www.antique-used-tools.com/brtypes.htm

Cheers :wink:

Paul

PS The best Bedrocks have 'Clifton' written on the lever cap :wink: :wink:

 

[Aled Dafis]

PS The best Bedrocks have 'Clifton' written on the lever cap :wink: :wink:

So true! :wink: :wink:

 

[yetloh]

My experience of having examined quite a few of each is that LNs are generally made to finer tolerances than Cliftons - but I'd rather have Veritas than either - quality as good as LN and more innovative.

Jim

 

[wizer]

Well to be perfectly honest, I'd rather have JET written on the SIDE on mine :lol:

 

[woodbloke]

... quality as good as LN and more innovative.

Jim

...except when they get it wrong, which happens from time to time. Most of the time, their stuff is very, very good - Rob

 

[Karl]

Hi Karl,

This link might give you some answers http://www.antique-used-tools.com/brtypes.htm

Cheers :wink:

Paul

PS The best Bedrocks have 'Clifton' written on the lever cap :wink: :wink:

Cheers Paul - that link looks like it will do the trick.

I got this Stanley 606 for about 1/3 of the price of the equivalent Clifton, and it seemed a nice little plane for the price. And the handles weren't broken - which they often are on these older planes.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Anonymous]

quality as good as LN and more innovative.

Jim

As an engineer, I do not agree. I love veritas kit and own quite a lot, but it is not as good quality in materials and finish as LN (excpet their very expensive new block plane).

Nothing wrong with the kit, just with the statement!

 

[Paul Chapman]

I got this Stanley 606 for about 1/3 of the price of the equivalent Clifton, and it seemed a nice little plane for the price. And the handles weren't broken - which they often are on these older planes.

Sounds like a good buy, Karl, and if you don't like it you'll probably get a good price for it from a collector.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[yetloh]

As an engineer, I do not agree. I love veritas kit and own quite a lot, but it is not as good quality in materials and finish as LN (excpet their very expensive new block plane).]

I certainly agree about the new block plane, I have one and it is superb. Streets ahead of the LN 60 1/2 in my opinion - after getting the Veritas, I sold my LN and haven't missed it except for the frustration of lateral adjustment.

As for their other planes, I think they are well made although I wouldn't argue with anyone who said the aluminium lever caps are a bit naff. I agree they do occasionally get it wrong; their sliding bevel is crap. Nice idea but if you adjust it so as to really securely lock it, the mechanism is apt to bend.

Jim

 

[Karl]

Sounds like a good buy, Karl, and if you don't like it you'll probably get a good price for it from a collector.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

I don't think this plane will be making it's way into the hands of one of those COLLECTORS :lol:

I bought it off e-bay for £78. It's always a risk buying stuff of the bay, although if it turned out to be pants I could always put it back on there!

I've popped in a Hock blade and chipbreaker which I had been using in another plane, and it performs beautifully

The shavings were from edge grain Iroko, and were 1thou thick. With no fettling etc etc.

Well chuffed.

Although the item description said "completely original". Not so - it has a record blade and an unspecified chipbreaker. Also, I need to work out whether the lever cap is original - hence my OP.

It will be getting a bit of a clean up over the next week, and i'll post some pics when finished if anybody is interested.

Cheers

Karl

 

[DaveL]

i'll post some pics when finished if anybody is interested.

Must be a rhetorical question, I think? :shock: :roll: :wink:

 

[Paul Chapman]

i'll post some pics when finished if anybody is interested.

Yes please Looks like a good buy - the #6 is a very useful size.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

Paul - thanks for the link. I've now been able to identify the plane as a Type 6A, 1922 model. It also confirms my original suspicion that the lever cap which came with the plane is not original.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've now been able to identify the plane as a Type 6A, 1922 model.

When you consider how long planes last, I think it demonstrates that even the expensive ones (and the Stanley Bedrocks were expensive in their day) represent very good value for money.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

When you consider how long planes last, I think it demonstrates that even the expensive ones (and the Stanley Bedrocks were expensive in their day) represent very good value for money.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Definitely. With good care this plane will give another few generations worth of service.

I've just stripped the plane and given the handles a scrub down to remove the laquer, ready for a good oiling over the next couple of days. I've also put the "nuts n bolts" in a jar of brush cleaner to get the gunk off them.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Karl]

Ok, so this was how it started

And after a bit of stripping, sanding, painting, sanding, polishing and a bit more sanding, this is how it came out

The only thing I haven't bothered to clean up is the lever cap. This is not original to the plane, and I intend to keep my eyes peeled for a proper "Bedrock" one.

Here's a picture of how I test the flatness of the sole

The sole was already nice and flat - a tiny bit of convexity in the length, but less than the thickness of the cigarette paper under the straight edge in the picture.

And finally the money shot

Had a bit of a result with this plane. I had bought it off e-bay for £78, with it being described as original and complete. However, the lever cap, blade and chipbreaker were not original parts, so I contacted the seller, who kindly agreed to refund half of the purchase price! Result

Cheers

Karl

 

[Paul Chapman]

You've made a fabulous job of that, Karl - you must be very pleased.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

Thanks Paul. And yes - I am very pleased with the results, although I have probably destroyed it's "collectors" value :lol:

Cheers

Karl

 

[bugbear]

The only thing I haven't bothered to clean up is the lever cap. This is not original to the plane, and I intend to keep my eyes peeled for a proper "Bedrock" one.

Here's a picture of how I test the flatness of the sole

Hmm - you show the plane reposing majestically on a rather splendid surface plate, and test for flatness with a straight edge ?!?!

Not only would a surface plate check show 2D flatness (as opposed to 1D straightness), I'll bet the spec of the plate is better than the straight edge.

Granted, the 1d check is "good enough", but it seems a little odd.

BugBear