Ulrich
Established Member
Hallo,
relying on the high reputation of Clifton planes I recently purchased a Clifton 420 shoulderplane. But after the first more detailed look at this plane I am rather disappointed with the quality I received. Just a few examples:
The lever cap shows a lot of blowholes – probably not relevant when using the plane, but not to be expected at a plane, which is commonly regarded as one of the best on the market. Here two examples:
The end of the lever cap is tapered on the one side more than on the other:
The lever cap only partially contacts the iron, since the lever cap is crowned and at its distant end has been deeply marred when it was grinded.
The pin, around which the lever cap pivots in the body has been installed to the lever cap so that it protrudes on the one side about 3,1 mm, on the other side 5,4 mm. So when the lever cap is mounted, the pin even protrudes about the plane body on one side. The pin itselve shows blowholes, too:
The plane body is slightly asymmetric – probably not relevant for the function but in my opinion not be expected on a Clifton plane. As can be seen on the side of the plane the casting mould for this plane seems not to have been the best any more, either:
Now, Clifton ist not a too common plane maker among German woodworkers. That is why I should like to ask here for your experiences with Clifton planes. In my opinion, any of these small defects might be acceptable on its own. But all together these really seem to me too much defects on a single plane for such a renowned plane maker. Or am I expecting, too much? But my Veritas and Lie-Nielsen planes – the only high end planes I can compare the Clifton 420 with - never have shown such flaws (and the Veritas planes are even cheaper than Cliftons...).
I should be glad to receive your opinions and advice
Ulrich
relying on the high reputation of Clifton planes I recently purchased a Clifton 420 shoulderplane. But after the first more detailed look at this plane I am rather disappointed with the quality I received. Just a few examples:
The lever cap shows a lot of blowholes – probably not relevant when using the plane, but not to be expected at a plane, which is commonly regarded as one of the best on the market. Here two examples:
The end of the lever cap is tapered on the one side more than on the other:
The lever cap only partially contacts the iron, since the lever cap is crowned and at its distant end has been deeply marred when it was grinded.
The pin, around which the lever cap pivots in the body has been installed to the lever cap so that it protrudes on the one side about 3,1 mm, on the other side 5,4 mm. So when the lever cap is mounted, the pin even protrudes about the plane body on one side. The pin itselve shows blowholes, too:
The plane body is slightly asymmetric – probably not relevant for the function but in my opinion not be expected on a Clifton plane. As can be seen on the side of the plane the casting mould for this plane seems not to have been the best any more, either:
Now, Clifton ist not a too common plane maker among German woodworkers. That is why I should like to ask here for your experiences with Clifton planes. In my opinion, any of these small defects might be acceptable on its own. But all together these really seem to me too much defects on a single plane for such a renowned plane maker. Or am I expecting, too much? But my Veritas and Lie-Nielsen planes – the only high end planes I can compare the Clifton 420 with - never have shown such flaws (and the Veritas planes are even cheaper than Cliftons...).
I should be glad to receive your opinions and advice
Ulrich
