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Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

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Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

#1

Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Hello Everyone,

A couple weeks ago I posted a question here that asked if anyone knew much about the Stanley 180 Rabbit Plane. I got some good feedback and decided to keep it (rather than sell it) and clean it up.

Using a part number I got from Clint Jones, I was able to buy a replacement depth stop directly from Stanley for $10 (+S&H).

While I waited for the parts to arrive, I flattened the bottom and polished it to 1500 grit. After that I cleaned the entire assembly with a mineral spirits and a brass brush. All the individual parts were cleaned, and given a coat of oil or wax. The back of the blade(s) (I had 2) were flattened, and the blades were sharpened.

However, when the parts arrived later that week I found that the replacement knurled bolt did not fit in the tapped hole in the plane body. So I attempted to find the bolt/hole size (unsuccessfully I might add). Try as I might I could not find the correct match. After searching for several days, I decided to retap the hole to #10-32 and be done with it. While I was at it, I also recut the threads on the replacement knurled bolt to #10-32 as well. It was an easy process and took all of ten minutes.

Stanley 180 Rabbit Plane - Bottom

Stanley 180 Rabbit Plane - Left Side

Stanley 180 Rabbit Plane - Right Side, with depth stop removed

Once it was assembled, it performed surprisingly well! I look forward to the next time I need to tweak a tennon to get perfect fit.

What do you think?

I'm on a roll now! I think my next plane to restore will be that old wood jack plane I just picked up last week, or a Union (Maybe Sargent?) #6 Jointer.

Thanks for viewing.


See ya around,



My ugly mug

Dominic

Re: Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

#2

Nice

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Stanley is famous (infamous?) for using strange, pre-standardization thread pitches. I suspect a lot of user planes have been re-tapped; certainly, I've done that on some of mine. This will mean HOURS of discussion on future hand tool discussion groups on whatever replaces the Internet.

I think you'll find it a useful tool, Dominic.

Re: Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

#3

Stanley and strange threads

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Bill,

Thanks for the compliments. I should also thank you for convincing me to retain this plane! :>)

I just was doing some research on Stanley tools and came across a reference to their use of non-standard threads. I have no idea if this was a ploy to lock in the spares market or what. But as it stands, the author of the article came to the same conclusion that I did. "Change it to something standard!"

Now,....if this was a venerable old No1 I was restoring, that would be a another matter all together! No way I'd re-tap that! It's worth too much in it's original state.

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

#4

Re: Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>Atta boy Dom! I'm glad you decided to keep it and restore it to use. It's a good plane to have in the "arsenal".

Tom

Re: Stanlet #180 cleaned, assembled, and polished!

#5

Well Dom...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>You did a fine job of brining a worthless plane back to life.

Just kidding... 8^)

I hope you enjoy it.

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