Stanley #78 (sorta) question

Re: Stanley #78 (sorta) question

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I would open the mouth a little at a time and see how much you want I tend to hog off quite a bit of wood with mine. but I use it less all the time as I have a full set of skued iron woodies now and most of them are my go to tools. As for grinding that iron That will be a tough row to hoe. make sure that you don't over heat the blade when doing it. I had to do that recently on a 90? and it was tough I used a file.

That's helpful

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Thanks, Ernie -

I used to hog wood, too, with my old blade. That's why I wondered. I know with a #73 you put a premium on a closed mouth (of course, it's adjustable), but I don't recall anyone commenting (pro or con) on the "optimal" mouth size of a #78 (of course, it's mouth is not adjustable).

On overheating the blade, could you elaborate? The slot is so far from the tip of the blade and I can't imagine that it's tempered that high up. I also doubt that this part of the blade gets much stress. Though with as much as I know about metallurgy, I could well be wrong.

Again, thanks for your post.

Dave

P.S. Yes, just the thought of filing the slot wider makes me tired. With your #90 blade effort, you're a better man than I am Ernie Miller.

Re: That's helpful

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Can you get by my work location Dave? I have carbide bits in various sizes that can open up the iron for you. Quick and painless. About the mouth...that sounds like filing and trying it and repeat as necessary.JR

Re: That's helpful

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I don't know nothing about metal either but if I spent good money on a fine blade I wouldn't want to do somthing dumb like ruin it befor I used it. Here is a thought Have you thought about dropping the plane on the floor and using the front bed for all your planing that way you don't have to open the mouth. Or better yet I'll trade you a busted one for you good one that way you don't tempth the tool gods by breaking a good tool.

Sure, that'd be great!

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hey, Joe -

Thanks for the offer. That'd be great. I appreciate it. I'll email you this evening to see when's a good time. I've eyeballed it, and it looks like I need to remove about 3/32" from one side of the 1 1/4" long slot.

Regards -

Dave

P.S. I agree with you on the mouth - a file, slow and steady.

Let me see.....

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Ernie -

Do I have this right? You want me either to: (a) bust up my plane, or (b) - better yet - trade you my perfectly good plane in exchange for a busted up plane you have? All this to save me the effort of filing open the mouth of my plane a bit for my brand new, sharp, heavy duty Lie Nielson replacement blade? Hmmm. I'm just a city boy. I'll have to think about this :-)

Ernie, your sense of humor spices up this board.

All the best -

Dave

Call LN Re: Fit

Todd Stock

>Have you called the manufacturer about this fit problem?

Might ask if you can send them your old blade as a pattern, and use .095 stock. The Craftsman clone has got to be out there in pretty decent numbers.

LN did great

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Todd -

Thanks for your note. I did contact L-N before purchasing and exchanged emails with Thomas. He was very prompt and gracious in his replies. I gave him what we thought might be the key measurements - but not the one for the slot size/location (a critical size, as it turns out).

I also emailed Thomas after it arrived and I learned it would not fit. He offered to make some adjustments if I would send the replacement and original back to him. We didn't discuss costs - but, then again, I didn't ask.

I am so eager to get this little puppy up and running, that I thought I'd try to deal with the problem myself. Truth be told, I have no idea how big a job this will be.

I want to underscore that Thomas and Lie Nielson have done good, as far as I am concerned.

Should I delay my gratification for 10 to two weeks, and ask Thomas what arrangement we can make to make this blade fit? I open to suggestions, comments, whatever.

Thanks for the post!

Regards -

Dave

Re: Loaner?

Todd Stock

>Dave:

Good (and unaltered) things come to those who can wait - I'll lend you my Record #778 while you get this done right. Email me off-line to set it up.

Also - any luck in getting LN to do this with the .095 stock? My guess is that Tom used 1/8" to close what is usually a pretty wide mouth on the 78; sounds like your clone is a bit tighter.

Re: Let me see.....

Ernie Miller Topeka

>Ok how bout this I'll sell you a lever cap and you can sell the lever cap and your old blade on ebay to one of them people who have the 78 with only one blade. It seems like every one has a plane that is missing the front blade. This would be there chance to have a complete plane. Heck you might even make enough to pay for that LN blade.

My thanks to the magician of metal!

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>In response to his kind offer, I took my LN replacement blade over to fellow Islander Joe Rogers this afternoon, and this master of metal work had the slot on my LN blade enlarged to fit my Craftsman Stanley #45 clone in no time flat. It's amazing what someone with the right know how and right tools can do. He also tweeked the slot on my lever cap with a slight campfer so it'd seat better on the screw and not move when I used the depth adjuster. I'd never heard of this little trick.

Simply amazing. Seemed like it took him only 10 minutes to do the whole thing.

I want to thank Joe who is a master of his craft, and a lover of tools and woodworking. Joe is also a friend. We first met through our postings on what was Badger Pond, and that friendship has continued here on WC and in get togethers with fellow Islanders in the Washington area. He's been a moving force in initiating and encouraging face to face opportunities for tool and woodworking enthusiasts in our area. And, as with all of the Islanders I've met, he's an all around nice guy.

Getting to know follow woodworkings and hand tool users has been one of the great parts of my growing interest in this craft. I'd encourage you all to meet other Islanders whenever the opportunity arises. I think you'll find it's a great experience.

Again, Joe, thanks for your help - and your friendship.

Regards -

Dave

P.S. Now I just need to open the mouth on this #45 clone every so slightly, and I'll be all set.

And try out your new #45 cutter :-)

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>

Too late....

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Thanks, Todd, for your offer of the loaner. But it's too late. As you'll see from the my other post on this thread with the help of Joe Rogers my replacement blade now fits - just right!!

Joe does amazing work.

Now I do need to open the mouth(s) (both the bullnose and the rabbett) ever so little. I may need to open it only 1/32", maybe a tad more. I'll protect the back of the throat (with what yet I don't know) and then I'll just go slow and check often.

Normally - and my nature - would be to take the careful approach you suggested. But I just got too excited about getting this plane (which I've had over a year) up and running well.

Still, thanks so much for your post. I really appreciated it.

Regards -

Dave

Interesting....

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>a double-bladed rabbett plane. Sounds like one of those Gilette razor blades with two (or is it three?) blades. You know, the first blade sets up the fibers, and the second slices them off - for ultra-smooth rabbetts. What a gimmi.... idea!

Ernie you may be on to something here. Keep those ideas comin' :-)

Regards -

Dave

You're right....

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Back in March when I couldn't make it to PATINA Joe kept his eyes peeled for a 3/16" cutter for my #45 - one of the few plow blades I was missing. Also I have the 3/16" tongue blade, so now I can do tongue and groves!!!!

Not only did he find one - in good condition and at a good price - but also stored it for me for 3 months until our paths crossed again. I can't wait to get that baby honed.

Yet another thing to say, thanks, to Joe for.

Many, many Thanks!!!!!!

Dave

Opps.. should have been #78 blade, not #45

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>

Re: Too late....

Todd Stock

>No problem...VA/MD guys have to hang together (or we shall certainly...)

Re: Joe, Inc.

Todd Stock

>So Joe...machinist skills? When are you going to start cranking out repro 289 fences?

Re: Joe, Inc.

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Well, I can manipulate arn and steel a little. It is kinda a requirement when you fix cars as there is so much of that stuff in them:-) I just have some job saving bits and taps and things that I aquired when I was just starting my career and used to screw things up a lot.

As far as doing machine work commercially, I will have to leave that to guys with more equipment and experience. I am the poster boy for the phrase "jack of all trades and master of none". But I'm better at front end work and alignments than anything else. Been doing it a long time.

I am lucky in that I enjoy my job. There are so many people that hate getting up and going to work. Being involved with a craft type job allows me to get the feeling that I accomplished something every day.

So if somthing minor is too big I can help you make it smaller... sort of. Precise, probably not,but I can get close enough. If I can be of assistance give me a yell.JR