I’ve got three planes. One is a brand new Stanley #4. I bought it from Woodcraft when taking a Hand Tools Basics and Sharpening class. The other two are a Stanley block plane and a Victor jack plane, both of which belonged to my great-grandfather.
I’m having problems with ol’ Rudolf’s jack plane right now. When I mate the chipbreaker to the iron (loose, not tightened at all), it looks just like it should (click to enlarge):
But when I tighten the screw to hold the chipbreaker in place, one end of the chipbreaker rises up (click to enlarge):
So since I can’t use my Victor for planing down my workbench lumber, I turned to Stanley #4. And since I’m a complete blockhead, I tried lowering the blade while the lever cap was tightened. Using a wrench to turn the depth adjustment knob, I couldn’t seem to get the blade any lower. Then suddenly, *pop*. The gizmo connecting the depth adjustment knob to the iron/chipbreaker snapped (click to enlarge):
Part of me wants to blame Stanley for making such cheap crap. Even with my user error, certainly a pre-WWII plane wouldn’t have let me do this? But in the end, I have to take some of the responsibility for it. I’m going to send this back to Stanley and just pray that they’ll send me a new one. In the meantime, I’m going to the local hardware shop to buy a cheap little block plane (probably less than $10), sharpen it up, and keep going!
3 comments
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January 8, 2008 at 4:27 pm
dan sayler
Get the part directly from the Stanley website here:
http://www.stanleytoolparts.com/yadlepin1.html
BTW, you had it coming using a wrench and all . . .
you bought it new so RTFM
cheers
danno
January 17, 2008 at 8:01 am
J.C. Collier
Word to the wise, Stanley hasn’t made a decent hand plane since the 1932 so if I were you, I’d haunt eBay for ANY Stanley’s made BEFORE then, as in models 11 thru 13.
The errant chip breaker is an easy fix if you want to. When I started out I didn’t have the geld to buy new so I learned plane craft via school of hard knots withe a #5 Stanley “Handyman”, a wretched excuse for a tool. But, because I took the time & effort to tune it, it did perform admirably and at least one order of magnitude better than as manufactured.
If you have the means then I suggest replacing the chip breaker with either a Hock or Clifton. I personally use the Clifton, its two-piece design allows me to whet the edge without having to remove it completely. The nose piece comes over-sized so you can fit it to your plane. Most times you can use it as-is but it’s nice to have the room for improvement built in, eh?
Also, if you’re accomplished at sharpening, replacing the chip breaker with a good one will greatly improve the performance of the tool on all but the toughest woods. For the tough stuff, replacing the thin Stanley blade with a beefier one, ala Hock, Iles, Clifton or Lie-Nielsen will advance your enjoyment [and success] in planing.
I repeat, IF you’re accomplished at sharpening then you are well on your way to enjoying this craft and its manifold pleasures.
Till then.
J.C.
January 20, 2008 at 10:19 am
Eric
Good words, J.C. – thanks! And Dan – done. Ordered and should be here before too long!