Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Plane question
JL
>Unfortunately I just inherited several planes. I spent the day cleaning and sharpening. The ruler in the picture is a 16" combination square. The plane on the left is a Miller Falls jack plane. The next is a Craftsman, and the other two have no markings. Am I correct in assuming the Craftsman is a smooth plane (maybe a #4)? What are the two small planes. They have no chip breakers. Thanks.
Re: Plane question
Kevin French, Antrim NH
>Likes to be a #4, too wide to be a #3.
The block planes look complete. Most are two piece instead of three with a bench plane.
What is the unfortunate part of aquiring these planes?
Re: Plane question
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
>The third plane over from left is an inexpensive block plane. These are frequently frustrating for anything better than "very rough," because the adjustment for the iron is by touch - hard to do when you're new at it - and the bedding of the iron is usually pretty minimal, so they chatter easily. Get the iron (blade) really sharp and try it out, though - you might have the touch.
The rightmost plane looks like an Xacto modelmaker's plane, suitable for fine trimming on softwoods.
Re: Plane question
JL
>I acquired them upon the death of my stepfather. That's the unfortunate part. I still have a truckload full of tools to bring down from Virginia.
Re: Plane question
Kevin French, Antrim NH
>That is unfortunate, but at least the tools are being past on to someone who is going to use them. It should be a great learning curve for you.
I got a few of my father-in-laws tools after his pasing, his sons didn't want them. I couldn't see disposing of them. Some I used, some are purely orimental, none are worth anything on the market.
Enjoy your planes and other tools and remember.
Re: Plane question
Tom MacGregor
>The mini on the right is not an x-acto. Theirs were flatter and made mostly of plastic. This one looks like Sargent's answer to the little Stanley 101. It's a little larger and twice as heavy as the Stanley and a different shape. They sold them under the Sargent name and a bunch of them marked Craftsman. The type I was made in the late 50's and was black with a yellow cap followed by at least four other colors.
I sit corrected
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
>
Went back and looked
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
>That's interesting, Tom. I've got one of those, and thought it was an older Xacto; but I guess I've got a Sargent. Cool.
Re: Went back and looked
Tom MacGregor
>A copy of the basic design is still available but (suprise!) it's a cheap import and not made as well. They have a smooth cap and are all a very dark blue. Sargent had the Sears account until the late 50's when Millers Falls got it for about 10 years. MF's "Craftsman" mini was a 101 clone.
Re: Plane question
JL
>Thanks all. Much appreciated. I have sharpened the blades to 6000 grit on my water stones. I will see how the little ones perform.
I've got one of those little ones
Mike Fitterling
>That very littlest one looks exactly like my little Buck Bros model that I bought a couple years ago. Still available at Home Depot, I believe. Useful once in a blue moon because of its size.
Re: Plane question
Ernie Miller Topeka
>Sorry to hear about you FIL take you time when going through his stuff what you may think of as junk today might be somthing you will want tomarrow.
Old Craftsman block plane
Johanna in Placitas, New Mexico
>I have one that belonged to my father. Its mouth is way too wide (and not adjustable) for hardwood, but it is just the ticket for carpentry with pine.