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Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Need a tree taken down or milled?

flattening a plane sole

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flattening a plane sole

#1

flattening a plane sole

Jack from Maine

>This a picture of the sole of #5 Stanley that I tried to flatten. It's a fairly new burgundy colored ebay plane that I didn't spend alot on. It was my first #5. As I learn I've been fixing things up.The sole on this one was horrible. The whole mouth area was concave. I laid a piece of 80 grit floor sander paper on a marble tile and went at it. I worked on this sole a little bit every time I was in the shop for over a week. Today I finally got sick of it and took it to the stationary belt sander. After awhile I called it enough. The mouth on this plane is already huge compared to an older #5 I have and the forward side of the mouth is still concave.

Is this plane useless? Would it be worth the trouble to convert it to a scrub? Or should I just shine it up and hang it on a shelf? Paperweight? It is pretty in a way. Nice burgundy finish,shiny sole.---thanks--Jack


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Re: flattening a plane sole

#2

Re: flattening a plane sole

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>That's an awfully distressing sight. It would do ok as a scrub, or just as a beat-em-up rough jack. Maybe a machine shop would be able to help you, along with a thicker blade, but you may find other casting and machining problems. You don't think that mouth is stock from the factory, do you? I'll bet someone was having problems with tuning the cap iron or adjusting the frog, and "fixed" the problem with a file.

Re: flattening a plane sole

#3

Re: flattening a plane sole

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>That plane will work. But I'd probably put it aside for roughing boards, lending to neighbours or maybe your kids.

It looks like it'll never be a smoother unless you like that teared out look.

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

Re: flattening a plane sole

#4

Re: flattening a plane sole

Jack from Maine

>I believe this plane came from the factory like this. The other side looks new. No scratches or missing finish.The color is odd(burgundy or some color I don't know the name of)but it looks like factory Japanning.Both ends of the casting are raised and it has Bailey on the sole and no patents.The handles are a stained straight grained wood with a semi gloss finish. Everything about this thing looks new.---Jack

Re: flattening a plane sole

#5

Re: Matching #3

Tom Scott

>Hey Jack,

What you need is a macthing #3. Same mouth, and it's even the same color. Just send me $20 and I'll put it in the mail to you the second I receive it. Heck, forget the money, just send me your address.

Tom

Re: flattening a plane sole

#6

Re: Matching #3

Jack from Maine

>Wow! Nevermind the paperweight,I'd have bookends. Thanks for the offer but don't waste the postage. You may need something to hold down your papers on a windy day.---Jack

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