This Secret Santa stuff is GREAT! (Long)
Gary Stamper
>Hi Everyone,
This Secret Santa stuff is going to be GREAT! I can�t wait to share this great item I have with some deserving person. This is my first year to participate in this festive event and I just can�t wait!
It all started a little over 5 years ago when I decided to do more than just watch New Yankee Workshop and The Woodwright�s Shop while saying � I can do that. Noooo problem�. I decided to venture forth to the local tool repository (the place where they have everything you could possibly need for whatever you need to do when it comes to tools and if they don�t have it well you didn�t really need it anyway). And there it was. Right there on the shelves next to the files, chisels and tape measures, my goal The Stanley Planes. I had already been to the other tool repository (the orange one) and all the planes they offered were Buck Bros. Well I knew I wanted the best. I had to have a Stanley plane. At the time I didn�t know a block plane from a bench plane but I knew if I was going to be serious about woodworking I needed a Stanley Plane. And that brings us to the present. Pun intended.
This item I am going to bestow upon some lucky person is a Marvel of Modern Manufacturing Technology. Now mind you they didn�t use wood for the front knob and rear tote (why you can find that stuff in any tree. I have 15 or 20 of those things in my backyard alone). No siree, my friends, they use nothing but the finest modern space age materials (plastic) for this piece of (er work of art). And except for the mold marks and the razor sharp edges they are wonderful to hold. Make that wonderful to behold.
Now I have since acquired other planes, some Stanley some not, but nothing to compare with this little gem. The blade adjuster on my other planes only have one nut to turn thus moving the blade in or out and some also have a lever to move the blade side to side but not this plane. It has two adjusting nuts. Can you believe it? Two! You can adjust the blade in and out while at the same time you adjust the end of the blade to square. Amazing! Why with this setup you don�t even need a chip breaker and the cap iron is only half the size! But the best feature by far is the sole. This example of MMMT(Marvel of Modern Manufacturing Technology) doesn�t need a flat sole. There is a .030� gap at the mouth when a straight edge is used front to back. Clearly it�s supposed to be that way.
Now I know your thinking why would I want to part with such a fine, mint, unused, and soon to be much sought after collector�s item (in about 1000 years)? And how do I know that the person who is lucky enough to have me as his or her Secret Santa is really deserving of such a wonderful gift. I don�t think there is anyone who is worthy of such a plane but it would warm my heart to know whoever receives this plane will appreciate it as much as I do.
So fellow woodworkers I hope whichever of you is destined to receive my Stanley SB-4 bench plane, my sincere condolences.
Gary S.
