My Grandfather's Plane

[TheDudester]

I was given my grandfather's plane that he had for as long as I can remember. I would like to try and save it so that I can use it. I have no idea what make it is, type etc.

I would appreciate any initial advice and if I decide to go ahead I know I will need more help.

Thanks

D

 

[bugbear]

I don't recognise the maker's logo on the blade; I'll look it up later if I can.

It is equivalent of a Stanley #4; a handy sized small plane, often called a smoother, although in practice used for a multitude of purposes.

As a usable tool, I see no major problems; a good clean up and ressemble "In the usual way" will see you right.

Here's my web page (with a few dated links, I'm afraid) which will show you some of the restoration/tuning options open to you.

http://www.geocities.com/plybench/plane.html

(hmm. Definitely need to update some links there)

Also...

http://workshop.tjmahaffey.com/planes1.php

BugBear

 

[TheDudester]

I don't recognise the maker's logo on the blade; I'll look it up later if I can.

It is equivalent of a Stanley #4; a handy sized small plane, often called a smoother, although in practice used for a multitude of purposes.

As a usable tool, I see no major problems; a good clean up and ressemble "In the usual way" will see you right.....

Hi BugBear

Thank you for your help and the links, I do appreciate it.

I tried identifying the maker but with no luck.

Regards

D

 

[Chris Knight]

What does it say on the front of the lever cap?

 

[TheDudester]

What does it say on the front of the lever cap?

Nothing that I can see. On the back of the lever there is a 6 and a B stamped.

Regards

D

 

[wjordan]

I have a jointer with the same marks on iron and lever cap. It is also marked "KUNZ" and "No 7" on the plane body:

http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/bench/rauhbank4.phtml

The letters GK on the iron are the initials of the German maker Gustav Kunz, who started making planes in 1910. Most if not all of his planes were Stanley clones. While modern Kunz planes are green, older ones were black and of good quality. I found mine for 13 Euro on the flea market. After some sharpening it takes thin shavings and is now one of my favorites. Go ahead and use it. You will like it.

Wolfgang

 

[TheDudester]

I have a jointer with the same marks on iron and lever cap. It is also marked "KUNZ" and "No 7" on the plane body:

http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/bench/rauhbank4.phtml

The letters GK on the iron are the initials of the German maker Gustav Kunz, who started making planes in 1910. Most if not all of his planes were Stanley clones. While modern Kunz planes are green, older ones were black and of good quality. I found mine for 13 Euro on the flea market. After some sharpening it takes thin shavings and is now one of my favorites. Go ahead and use it. You will like it.

Wolfgang

Hi Wolfgang

Thank you for posting this information.

There are no identifying marks on the plane body as far as I can see. Perhaps the length of the body prevented it.. The original colour of the plane is black.

With the help of the forum members and others I am looking forward to restoring it. I know the plane was going to be discarded untill I asked for it.

Regards

D

 

[Benchwayze]

I have a jointer with the same marks on iron and lever cap. It is also marked "KUNZ" and "No 7" on the plane body:

http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/bench/rauhbank4.phtml

The letters GK on the iron are the initials of the German maker Gustav Kunz, who started making planes in 1910. Most if not all of his planes were Stanley clones. While modern Kunz planes are green, older ones were black and of good quality. I found mine for 13 Euro on the flea market. After some sharpening it takes thin shavings and is now one of my favorites. Go ahead and use it. You will like it.

Wolfgang

Hi Dudester,

You probably don't need me to tell you this, but you'll feel even better about using this plane if you don't do anything to the patina on the woodwork. You'll be in touch with your Grandfather. Sounds silly, but it's a fact.
Regards
John

 

[Benchwayze]

http://www.geocities.com/plybench/plane.html

(hmm. Definitely need to update some links there)

Also...

http://workshop.tjmahaffey.com/planes1.php

BugBear

Hi BugBear
Nice page!
I see you included Ian Kirby in your links.
He's one of the most under-rated woodworkers on the planet in my humble opinion.. He convinced me of one or two things that improved my work no end.
Thanks
John

 

[kenneth cooke]

I read your post and saw the illustration of what looks like an early Kunz No4 smoother. Old tools are far better than modern ones as the quality of the castings is far superior.

Firstly, I would re-assemble the plane complete with the existing blade. I would then proceed to lap the sole on 400 grit wet and dry stuck down to a piece of plate glass. Lubricate with a light machine oil. The process is very time consuming but very worthwhile. Once you have lapped the sole you need to consider buying a modern iron from someone like Ron Hock, Ray Illes or Lei- Neilsen. Once you have acquired a new iron and lapped the back of this and honed it you can fit the new blade and check the clearance of the mouth. As the modern blades are considerably thicker than the blade which came with the plane you will need to move the frog back to cater for this. Once adjusted you should be able to produce wafer thin shaving of any hardwood all day long. The production of shaving of this quality is, on my opinion one of the most pleasurable activities you will ever practice in woodworking. Another thing. Don't discard the old iron. This could be lapped sharpened and honed and kept as a spare to be used on suspect timber that you do not wish to subject your new iron to

 

[TheDudester]

You probably don't need me to tell you this, but you'll feel even better about using this plane if you don't do anything to the patina on the woodwork. You'll be in touch with your Grandfather. Sounds silly, but it's a fact.
Regards
John

This is one of the things I have been debating with myself. Once I give it an initial clean I will see what it is like then.

Thanks

D

 

[TheDudester]

I read your post and saw the illustration of what looks like an early Kunz No4 smoother. Old tools are far better than modern ones as the quality of the castings is far superior.

Firstly, I would re-assemble the plane complete with the existing blade.....

Thanks for the advice.

Having never done this before I still don't have a process in my mind. Your post will help. I'm sure I have read others at some time on the forums. Just need to find them.

Regards

D

 

[Benchwayze]

You probably don't need me to tell you this, but you'll feel even better about using this plane if you don't do anything to the patina on the woodwork. You'll be in touch with your Grandfather. Sounds silly, but it's a fact.
Regards
John

This is one of the things I have been debating with myself. Once I give it an initial clean I will see what it is like then.

Thanks

D

In similar vein:

SWIMBO wanted me to have my Dad's old rocking chair tarted up. Fair enough for the upholstery. It was a mess. But I just managed to stop her re varnishing the arms! Me Dad wore that varnish away and that's how the chair remains for what's left of my stay on Planet Earth!
regards
John :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

. Old tools are far better than modern ones as the quality of the castings is far superior.

Really? :lol: Is this not a little sweeping as statements go? Would it not be better to temper or qualify such statements so as not to mislead?

Have you mentioned the poor quality of their castings to Tom lie Nielsen., Rob Lee and the guys at Clico (Clifton) ?


Old planes may often have better castings than modern mass produced Stanleys and Records that sell for a pittance, but their quality would not hold up when compared to the makers listed above.
Sure modern Stanely, record etc.. are generally poor quality tools, but I have also come across some far worse quality old Stanley and Records over the years

I once had a very old Record plane that left black marks on the wood as the iron was abraded from the sole during normal use!!! I would rather have a modern stanley any day than that old plane

 

[jonbikebod]

In the world of Classic motorbikes, for decades the all-important motivation was to restore them to the condition they left the showroom; if not better. There is now a new a new attitude slowly gathering acceptance and that is for a bike to be as it was when owned in the period it was bought; original and un-restored. This is a sort of backlash to preserve the impression of the use of the motorbike that ‘restoring’ obliterates. There is a growing feeling that preserving the article and the modifications and bodges of the era, is now more valuable. The danger was restorers would obliterate the history. As a result, I like to keep the impression decades of use, leaves on a wooden surface. I am not a collector; I use my old tools but I do take care not to remove the irreplaceable shadow of those who owned the tool before me. I may add my own ‘thumbprint’ to the patina but I take nothing away.
Once, you couldn’t move for Ford Cortinas, how often do you see one in original condition today?
Jon.

 

[Digit]

I agree mate.

Roy.

 

[TheDudester]

Thanks Benchwayze, jonbikebod and Digit. I agree with the point all of you have made. I am gong to start reading the information provided by the links soon. I also found good posts on here of planes people have restored which make interesting reading too.

Regards

D

 

[woodbloke]

In the world of Classic motorbikes, for decades the all-important motivation was to restore them to the condition they left the showroom; if not better. There is now a new a new attitude slowly gathering acceptance and that is for a bike to be as it was when owned in the period it was bought; original and un-restored. This is a sort of backlash to preserve the impression of the use of the motorbike that ‘restoring’ obliterates. There is a growing feeling that preserving the article and the modifications and bodges of the era, is now more valuable. The danger was restorers would obliterate the history. As a result, I like to keep the impression decades of use, leaves on a wooden surface. I am not a collector; I use my old tools but I do take care not to remove the irreplaceable shadow of those who owned the tool before me. I may add my own ‘thumbprint’ to the patina but I take nothing away.
Once, you couldn’t move for Ford Cortinas, how often do you see one in original condition today?
Jon.

I have put this pic up before so apologies to those who've seen it and for going slightly off topic, but for all the bikers on the forum, just to get the drool going :lol: this fine Sunday morning how about taking this for a spin:

...this Norton is brand new having been brought from the factory and never ridden by the owner - Rob
Jon.[/quote]

 

[Benchwayze]

The nearest I get to riding one of those, is going to the Motorcycle Museum, every few weeks; usually to the PC fair they hold there every Saturday! That bike is probably better than most of the models there.

Makes me wonder where all that time went, when I realise I once thought about buying a new Norton. I chose a BSA Rocket instead!

Then I met SWIMBO!
Then we needed furniture...
:-({|=


John

 

[Benchwayze]

Thanks Benchwayze, jonbikebod and Digit. I agree with the point all of you have made. I am gong to start reading the information provided by the links soon. I also found good posts on here of planes people have restored which make interesting reading too.

Regards

D

My pleasure Dudester.

Regards
John