tool steel & norris type blade adjusters

[head clansman]

hi all


I'm trying to get on to cromwells website to order some A2 tool steel to make some plane blades and can't for some strange reason :x , anyone know of a website that i can order small amount enough to make 2 blades @ 2" * 3/16"* 7 1/2" and 1 @ 2 1/2" * 3/16" * 7 1/2" .


also I'm looking for an alternative website to get a price quote for a couple of norris type adjusters, i have one site somewhere in scotland (name escapes me at the mo ) but was looking to find a second so i have a comparison to judge by . I e-mailed two companies 2 weeks ago,so i could bye ready made parts one was st james bay tool company and the other bristol design both have jet to respond , so any one any ideas would be most welcome thanks in advance for any replies . hc :?

 

[Harbo]

I ordered some Gauge Plate from Cromwells last week on their website - no problems and arrived very quickly.

Ray Iles used to sell Norris Adjusters but best to give him a ring, likewise Bristol Designs - they are not very web orientated?
I bought one from BD a few years ago and supplies were very low then - I think they said their Engineer who made most of their stuff had retired? But check with them just in case.
Karl Holtey used to sell them too - but they were expensive but precision made (you can see some on his blog).
Toolbazar in Scotland used to sell the RI ones I think?

Rod

 

[Aled Dafis]

I use J+L industrial for gauge plate.

http://www.mscjlindustrial.co.uk

Ray Iles makes Norris type adjusters for around £40. I've not used them, but from what I've read on the net, Ray really knows what he's doing when it comes to planes, so I imagine that it's pretty good.

http://www.toolbazaar.co.uk/Spares.asp#4

Cheers

Aled

 

[head clansman]

hi

harbo I mentioned the two companies It would be nice if when an e mail is sent they at least replied at least you know where you stand then , and then need to look elsewhere .

aled Thanks for the web links I'll try both later this evening , you certainly need to look around nowadays as prices differ so much now .

 

[matthewwh]

Hi Martin,

I'd stick with normal gauge plate if I were you, A2 needs to be cryo hardened to make anything useful (popping it in the freezer won't do) and then triple tempered to convert enough martensite to take an edge properly.

Rays adjusters work a treat, I fitted one to an old Norris smoother a couple of years back.

Good luck.

 

[Harbo]

hc - unfortunately BD & RI probably never read their emails very frequently? - they are good people and deserve our support and they always respond to phone calls.

Rod

 

[head clansman]

hi all

I'm struggling a bit here with the choice of metals. I found on e bay some 304 stainless steel rolled steel flat bares, some at 6mm and others at 5mm * 50mm * 250mm just the right size, but I'm not sure if these will be able to be hardened and tempered, all the help i can get here would be much appreciated .hc

 

[Philly]

Martin
You want to look for O1 or high carbon steel - this you can heat treat yourself. Stay away from A2 and other alloys - these require specialist treatment that you will need to send away for.
Hope this helps,
Philly

 

[Mr Ed]

O1 is fairly readily available in my experience. Most towns have a small metal stockholder - there must be one near you Martin?

Ed