Stanley bedrock 607 restore or not?

[jordec66]

Hi all , I have just bought a bedrock 607 flat top , smooth sole and would love to restore it to 'showroom'
condition. I propose get it machined shiny and flat , refinish tote and knob , all in all the full monty. My question is would this be sacrilige and an exercise in tool devaluation , or as I picture , a beautiful old tool brought back to life. your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Declan.

 

[kirkpoore1]

Are you going to use it, or sell it? If you're going to use it, go for it. These were meant to be used. A good tuneup will help. And you'll be personally invested in the tool, so you'll treat it better.

If you're just going to flip it, I don't know if you'll get more or not.

Kirk

 

[adidat]

I had the same idea, so i flatened mine and stripped it all off. But that took enough time and i was at college so time was running out of time for my projects, so i just left the casting bare and over the last year it has really grown on me. Its an excellent plane espacialally when you put a ron hock iron and chip breaker in it.
:wink:
Adidat

 

[jordec66]

I would not sell it , I really want to restore it to as near to original as possible.

 

[adidat]

hi again

just took this piccy for you,

no.607 and no.604 the 607 is very usable and i love it dearly it lives 2 feet from my bed :lol:, i dont no if you can see the bare surface, i like it because it shows all the marking and patent dates very clearly. also its the same surface that a craftsman in 1911 may have touched not long after it was poured. the only thing i would like to do with this one is flatten on higher grits to polish the side and soles .

the 604 hasnt had much done when i first received it i dismantled it and sadly the front knob just crumbled so im trying to get a replacement sorted fingers crossed for sunday. i have almost stripped all the japanning off, but i have discovered just how useless nitromores is :evil: .

im hoping to expand the set one day to get all the numbers a 5 1/2 is next

adidat

 

[jordec66]

Absolutley beautiful .Thanks for pics.

 

[Karl]

I did a No 8 a couple of years ago

Here is the original post.

You may find something of interest in there. I did a No 6 too.

Cheers

Karl

 

[bugbear]

Hi all , I have just bought a bedrock 607 flat top , smooth sole and would love to restore it to 'showroom'
condition. I propose get it machined shiny and flat , refinish tote and knob , all in all the full monty. My question is would this be sacrilige and an exercise in tool devaluation , or as I picture , a beautiful old tool brought back to life. your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Declan.

It's not rare enough to be super collectible, or precious enough that the existing wear/usage should be preserved as in a museum.

So do what you wish - it's your plane.

My personal preference is not "as new", but as if a tool had spent its life being used, but also perfectly maintained, by a master craftsman.

Such a condition can often be achieved even if the tool has been (in fact) used and/or ignored by a complete butcher!

BugBear

 

[markturner]

I did a No 8 a couple of years ago

Here is the original post.

You may find something of interest in there. I did a No 6 too.

Cheers

Karl

Hey Karl, that's a REALLY nice job you have done and a beautiful plane.

Edit , It is a type 5 , I was forgetting it was a bedrock... D'oh!!


I love the bedrocks, and would agree exactly with the style and level of refinishing you done.

Cheers, Mark

 

[jimi43]

Hi all , I have just bought a bedrock 607 flat top , smooth sole and would love to restore it to 'showroom'
condition. I propose get it machined shiny and flat , refinish tote and knob , all in all the full monty. My question is would this be sacrilige and an exercise in tool devaluation , or as I picture , a beautiful old tool brought back to life. your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Declan.

It's not rare enough to be super collectible, or precious enough that the existing wear/usage should be preserved as in a museum.

So do what you wish - it's your plane.

My personal preference is not "as new", but as if a tool had spent its life being used, but also perfectly maintained, by a master craftsman.

Such a condition can often be achieved even if the tool has been (in fact) used and/or ignored by a complete butcher!

BugBear

110% agree....spot on!

Jim

 

[jordec66]

Hey Karl , that is a superb refurb , thanks for link to your original post , I'll pick up some tips there.
I will post my pics when finished.

Declan.

 

[Vann]

I did a No 8 a couple of years ago

Hi Karl,

I note that picture dates back to your 2009 thread. Did you ever track down a No.8 sized lever-cap?

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Karl]

Hi Vann

No, I never did find one. I looked round for a bit, but quickly became bored. It worked perfectly fine as it was anyway.

Cheers

Karl