Dating a Stanley #4 1/2 plane?

[AndyT]

Douglas,
I hope you won't mind if I add that it was JA Chapman that Stanley bought to get established in Sheffield.

 

[condeesteso]

thanks Andy, it is indeed a Chapman drill that i have, and that is what got me looking. Did I say it was from memory? I can't remember

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Good suggestions - thanks. Shame I didn't see it until now (having just flattened it this evening) :wink:

As it happens, I've got a glass float plate which is flat enough that it's probably a higher standard than my skill level with a plane (if that makes sense). It wasn't bad at all - just a line about 3/4" wide where it's maybe been used to plane a lot of board edges.

Having done that, I decided to attack my #4. Turns out that had a much more significant twist in the sole, but I've mostly got that out too.

Finally I did ease the edges and toe and filed the heel on both planes. I ran out of time this evening to do a proper clean of the #4 1/2 and wax both, so for the moment I've just wiped the soles down with some 3-in-1 to prevent them rusting.

... I've picked up some bubinga (with the intention of making a new handle and tote). Cross fingers it'll end up looking pretty nice; as well as the important bit of actually being useful.

Fair enough! If the soles were noticably worn or twisted, they'll in all liklihood be a bit better for a dose of attention.

Just a suggestion (born of bitter experience!) on the handle making - if you haven't made one before, a practice run on a piece of scrap (anything will do - bit of construction grade pine, even) may well pay dividends. Ironing out the little wrinkles of technique before attacking the 'nice' wood can save time; it's better to waste a bit of pine than a bit of something nice you've paid good money for. Plane handles look simple, but they have their sneaky subtleties....

 

[sploo]

Just a suggestion (born of bitter experience!) on the handle making - if you haven't made one before, a practice run on a piece of scrap (anything will do - bit of construction grade pine, even) may well pay dividends. Ironing out the little wrinkles of technique before attacking the 'nice' wood can save time; it's better to waste a bit of pine than a bit of something nice you've paid good money for. Plane handles look simple, but they have their sneaky subtleties....

Thanks. I've found this rather useful link http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=63262 which I'm hoping will help me get the basics right. The shaping I'll obviously base on the existing totes.

This evening I attacked the plane with a toothbrush, white spirit, wire wool, and a fetching pair of purple rubber gloves (the wife's, obviously :wink. That was followed by Liberon lubricating wax and 3-in-1 in various appropriate places. Turned out nice:

I did briefly attack the tote (and got some grain to appear from under the muck) but didn't spent that much time on it or the front handle as I have some bubinga in preparation:

It may be a while before I get further as I'm going to leave it for a ~week to see if it moves after resawing (before I plane it flat for final use).

 

[sploo]

This plane buying lark turns out to be a bit addictive :wink:

I scored a #5 1/2 that looks to be a similar vintage to the #4 1/2. Very mucky, and the paint coat is mostly missing from behind the frog to the plane's heel, though the frog initially looked in better condition:

Rust remover was required this time, but a few hours of cleaning and wax we have:

The sole didn't require much flattening and has come up pretty well. The right side of the plane is square to the sole, so should be good for a shooting board. I don't have a straight edge + feeler gauges, but the sole looks pretty good to me vs a decent metal rule, and with the iron sharpened it's cutting really nicely.

I've not done anything with the tote or handle as I'm still planning on making new ones, though TBH these ones look pretty sound and would clean up well.

And... I have a Record #3 on the way. Hopefully the addiction will subside, but I would like a #5 :wink:

 

[Vann]

This plane buying lark turns out to be a bit addictive :wink:

And... I have a Record #3 on the way. Hopefully the addiction will subside, but I would like a #5 :wink:

My prediction for 2016: The addiction won't subside and you'll have 20+ planes by this time next year (hammer)

Have a great New Year everybody.

Cheers, Vann :ho2 :deer :deer :deer .

 

[sploo]

This plane buying lark turns out to be a bit addictive :wink:

And... I have a Record #3 on the way. Hopefully the addiction will subside, but I would like a #5 :wink:

My prediction for 2016: The addiction won't subside and you'll have 20+ planes by this time next year (hammer)

Have a great New Year everybody.

Cheers, Vann :ho2 :deer :deer :deer .

No chance. Definitely no chance.




...ebay.co.uk... *click* *click* *tap tap tap* :mrgreen:

 

[Bod]

This plane buying lark turns out to be a bit addictive :wink:

And... I have a Record #3 on the way. Hopefully the addiction will subside, but I would like a #5 :wink:

My prediction for 2016: The addiction won't subside and you'll have 20+ planes by this time next year (hammer)

Have a great New Year everybody.

Cheers, Vann :ho2 :deer :deer :deer .

No chance. Definitely no chance.




...ebay.co.uk... *click* *click* *tap tap tap* :mrgreen:

OH yea!!

Bod
Who said something similar....

 

[Mr_P]

My name is Carl and I'm a planeaholic its been 56 days since I bought a plane.

My resolution for 2016 is one in, two out.

 

[sploo]

My name is Carl and I'm a planeaholic its been 56 days since I bought a plane.

LOL. Do spokeshaves and scraper's count as sober, or are they classed as plane purchases?

 

[toolkit]

Stanley UK were using Qualcast for their plane castings a good many years before Record switched to Qualcast (late 1950s). It can't have been many years after the war.

Cheers, Vann.

I can vouch for that. I worked at Qualcast in Horseley Fields Crane works. We turned out thousands of plane body castings of all sizes. Both for Stanley and Record. They were then sent off for machining. Some came back with sand inclusions or blow holes and they were thrown back into the cupola.

 

[Sachakins]

I can vouch for that. I worked at Qualcast in Horseley Fields Crane works. We turned out thousands of plane body castings of all sizes. Both for Stanley and Record. They were then sent off for machining. Some came back with sand inclusions or blow holes and they were thrown back into the cupola.

That thread was from 2015 !

 

[toolsntat]

I can vouch for that. I worked at Qualcast in Horseley Fields Crane works. We turned out thousands of plane body castings of all sizes. Both for Stanley and Record. They were then sent off for machining. Some came back with sand inclusions or blow holes and they were thrown back into the cupola.

Many thanks for taking the time to confirm this.
Any other interesting bits of information, if any, would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Andy

 

[toolsntat]

@toolkit we had some other information regarding Qualcast here....

Thread 'Stanley planes - made in Wolverhampton' Stanley planes - made in Wolverhampton

Cheers, Andy