Thos. Ibbotson Bull Nose Plane

[Dokkodo]

Hi all, new to the forum, and just thought id post a few pictures of the bull nose plane I bagged at the local car boot for a few quid.

I googled the maker, and it brought me back here, reputable company by the sounds of it though no mention of a bull nose. Its the first ive owned and I was wondering whether anyone could explain the veins of brass, has it been broken in two and welded back together?

Havent gotten round to cleaning it up yet but im sure itll come up nice. Very pleasing weighty little thing it is.

 

[AndyT]

Not welded, but brazed, so yes, mended using brass. Perfectly practical for a tool to use, if a bit less attractive to some collectors.
Ibbotson was a respected maker. The name was acquired by Marples who kept it in use for a long time.

 

[Dokkodo]

Great thanks, it feel solid still and im a user more than a collector so its fine. Quids in.

 

[woodbrains]

Not welded, but brazed, so yes, mended using brass. Perfectly practical for a tool to use, if a bit less attractive to some collectors.
Ibbotson was a respected maker. The name was acquired by Marples who kept it in use for a long time.

Hello,

It would be a perfectly practical fix to a user, but I can see, unless my eyes decisive me, the front and rear sole is no longer co-planar, by quite a margin. Could even be twisted in relation to each other. (Azimuth error) Might be a pig to actually use.

Mike.

 

[swb58]

In the second photo it looks like it is still cracked or hasn't been attached as cleanly as the other side which might account for any misalignment between the two parts (if there is any). It wouldn't cost much to have it have it taken off and put back on again at your local welders shop if there are any issues.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Hi Dokkodo, and welcome to the forum!

Poor old thing does look like it's been in the wars a bit - but here's a suggestion to make a really good user out of it. Put it on a flat surface, blade wedged in but 'backed off', and have a careful poke about under the bed both in front of and behind the mouth, to find out how out of true the bed is. Acquire some steel shimstock a little thicker than the greatest discrepancy, and attach it with an engineering adhesive to the out-of-line bit. Allow to cure thoroughly. Then, very carefully, file the bed flat again, finishing by lapping on wet-and-dry stuck to a piece of float glass or similar flat surface. That should bring the bed workably flat without opening the mouth much.

Whilst about it with the shim and glue, it would be worth adding a small piece to the top of the body in the wedge opening, to bring the wedge back a touch and more in line with the body outline.

Then, with a careful clean, and a sharpen to the blade, you could well have a tool as functionally good as any bullnose.