Clifton multiplane

Re: Clifton multiplane

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>I'd advise just buying a nice Record 405 for a 3rd of the price and equal or maybe even better quality.

Re: Clifton multiplane

Steve Wargo

>About 4 years ago I was really high on Clifton planes. I looked into purchasing one of these planes from a dealer in the U.K. (much cheaper) and went as far as going to a local WoodCraft and looking at one. I was going to pay $390 including shipping at the time. Then I went and looked at one. I was very disappointed. The fit and finish on this plane was terrible. Nowhere near the quality that their bench planes had. The irons looked to be of poor quality and 4 of the ones I examined (I stopped at 4) had the edges badly out of square. There were what looked like rough seams in the casting, almost as if the plane was never machined afterward. I don't know if they are all this way, but this changed my mind in a hurry. I ended up getting an old screw-arm Boxwood Plow plane instead. Much cheaper and it works great. Hope this helps.

Re: Clifton multiplane

Alan Hamilton

>Dan,

I have one--and no one is taking it away until they pry my cold, dead fingers off of it!

I can't speak to others' experience, but mine has been good. Mine has excellent fit and finish, the irons take a very sharp edge and hold it, and everything, including all the stock irons and the extra irons, fits into the nice box it comes in. It is more capable than either my Stanley #45 or my Stanley #12-250. The tote and knob are wood, and are delightful to hold; they're also in the right places, right where my hands would naturaly go. I enjoy using it--which is the only reason I bought it and keep it.

The downsides are that it is very expensive, and it is fussy to set up. Once set up, though, it works perfectly well.

My recommendation? If this is your first combination plane, try to find a Stanley 12-250. Of the three combination planes I have, it is by far the easiest to set up and use. There's nothing fussy about it, and it works very well. The problem is that a 12-250 is a kind of Spartan #45, and as such it isn't as capable as a Clifton, it cannot cut ovolos for instance. If you can find them, with parts and irons from a Stanley #55, a Clifton will do most everything.

If you already have a combination plane, and want options unavailable on a Stanley #45 or #12-250, as I said above, the Clifton is an excellent tool and is much easier to set up and use than a Stanley #55.

Alan

Re: Clifton multiplane

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>Hello Alan,

I have never seen a live Clifton Multiplane. What will it do that a Stanley #45 will not?

Thanks,

Don

Re: Clifton multiplane

Alan Hamilton

>Don,

It will cut ovolos for one thing. In fact, my Clifton came with two ovolo irons.

Someone, I've forgotten who, told me a Stanley #45 will cut ovolos. I tried it. Perhaps my #45 is an unusual version that can't cut ovolos.

Also, I've blundered across some Stanley #55 accessories, including an ogee iron, and a convex skate and iron. With some fiddling they work on my Clifton.

In my limited experience I would say a Clifton is roughly the equivalent of a Stanley #45, but it can do a few things a Stanley cannot. My experience with a #45 is very limited, so it could be that with some tweaking and fiddling a #45 is exactly equivalent to a Clifton.

I haven't gotten closely acquainted with my #45 because my #12-250 will do everything my #45 can do, and is much easier to set up and use.

Alan

Re: Clifton multiplane

Harold Blair

>I have been using a 405 for years now and really like it. Additional blades are harder to come by than the Stanley 45 or 55.