Advantages of being a bottom feeder

Off brands

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I guess Sears has been jobbing out its products for quite a while now - say a century or so. Same with others. One of my finer planes is a Wards Master No. 4. Iron seems to stay sharp forever.

The problem for the bottom feeder is that Sears, Wards, etc., used various makers over the years. The Craftsman jack plane I purchased in the 1970s is, well, less than impressive. The No. 6 very early (first Craftsman logo design) that a friend gave me is what got me mildly hooked on No. 6 planes. Of course, if the price is right, you can use the usual indicators of quality and then experiment, cheaper in dollars than buying LN or LV.

You just ain't right!

Ernie Miller *Topeka

>I went to two sales today and spent $8 got 2 boxes for $5 one hade about 100 match box and hot wheel cars and 50 licens plates the other was junk tools Miller falls brest drill Starrette 50'steel tape A draw knife that I traded for having my fire wood stacked. small brass gun smiths vice couple saw sets and mechanics tools. most will be up on ebay tomarrow. then at the other sale I got a bunch of JAPAN willow ware Really nice print think I can get my money back on it also. Can't beleave you spent two hours cleaning a plane that just ain't right that is a $55 plane

Almost forgot

Bob Hackett

>The guy I got the plane from also threw in 3 rusty bevel edge socket chisels too(guess he felt bad about the price on the plane).The 1/2 is a Pexto,the 3/4 and 1" are both James Swan.The Pexto was the only one with a handle though.

Only took about 1/2 hour to shine them up and lap the few pits out of the back on all 3.

Hey!Where`d Ernie go?

Mainely,Bob-Who`s glad he decided to go with the wife to buy wreaths and even more glad he stopped at the junk shop coming back.

Re: Almost forgot

Ernie Miller *Topeka

>Dagonnit I was out looking for chisels today? How can you go to an estate sale that has saws drills and other woodworking tools and no chisels? I just don't understand.

Re: Advantages of being a bottom feeder

Dale Stansbery

>I just picked up a 1950's, according to the label(maybe 30's, but I doubt it) Craftsman 6C earlier tonight at an auction. It's near like new, rosewood handles, a full label, and looks like a very well made plane. It has an odd numbering system, 6CBB, and the blade is also marked BB. It would be nice to have a type study on these old Craftsmans that indicated the maker. I have one of the old green Craftsman low angle block planes I keep in a kitchen drawer for the odd jobs around the house. It's every bit as good as my Stanleys.

Re: Advantages of being a bottom feeder

Skip in Falls Church

>If that blade is one of the laminated SW blades, there is a way to "save" it if it's not pitted through the steel laminated onto the blade - back bevel it. I had a badly pitted one and did a 5 degree back bevel and it works great. I've found that it's nice to have something between the 45 degress of a Stanley and 60 degrees of an HNT.

Skip

Re: Advantages of being a bottom feeder

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>Kinda late chiming in here, but I just picked up a Sargent 409, cracked tote, no chipbreaker for $2.00 (down from $10.00 a month ago.) Wnet to another table at the same flea and grabbed a sargent iron and chipbreaker for another $2. Zapped the heck out of the plane, glued and refinished the wood, and I'll be lapping the sole tonight. Looks pretty good for $4.00.

PS no japanning left at all, so it looks like this one will get a rustoleum refinishing

409

Bob Hackett

>Funny you should mention that.A 409 just made it to the top of the rust pile recently and I was impressed by the heft of the casting as compared to the Stanleys I`d been working on,noticably heavier than a comparable vintage #4.The iron is also thicker.

BTW-Just popped the SW iron out of that old Craftsman plane I took that thicker iron from and it`s definately made by Sargent,even has 409 cast under the lever cap.Imagine that!

Mainely,Bob

Re: 409 *LINK*

walt quadrato

>wait 'til you find an iron from an older Union plane..thickest ones I've seen short of Hock or L-N's..I do like those Sargent planes though.

walt q


brass city toolworks

Question for Walt and Bob

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>Another question for the Sargent Guru's. I now have a VBM blade and the 409 Blade. Any real difference between the two? I know VBM = VERY BEST MADE, but i really cant see a difference between the two.

And I agree with Walt about the union irons. Put one in a #4 Handyman I've had for years and it stopped chattering!