200+ WoodCentral book reviews
Articles Forums Gallery Marketplace Videos

WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Price drop on over 1300 Rockler items

A little (!) gloat, part deux

Posts

A little (!) gloat, part deux

#1

A little (!) gloat, part deux

Denis Chenard in Ottawa

My good friend (see post of three weeks or so ago) who provided me with a brand new Stanley 55 had another tool for me when we met for lunch on Tuesday:


A Stanley 77 Dowel and rod turning machine! With four cutters, 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4", on top of the 3/8" cutter that came with the machine.

Now, this one is not "new" in the sense that it has been used at least once (there's sawdust on the 1/2" cutter), but other than some light surface rust on some components it does look brand new 8)

And it was free, who am I to complain? :)

That was a fantastic birthday present!

DC

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#2

There's a little thingie in the box...

Denis Chenard in Ottawa

...that I can't make sense of... Maybe it is not part of that machine?


(apologies for the pic, shiny metal stuff is a b**** to shoot)

This thing looks like the opposite of a countersink, in the sense that I could see it being used to round off the ends of dowels, except that the "cutter" is not sharp by any means.

Can anyone gve me an indication of what it's for? If that's of any help, there's a "No. 22" engraved on the shaft, just above the shank.

Any help in identifying this thingie would be appreciated...

DC

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#3

Re: There's a little thingie in the box...

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

Looks to me like a spoke pointer, dowel-end-rounder-offer. Is there a separate cutter that can be removed to sharpen? If not, is there a screw hole that would hold such a cutter? If no separate cutter but a screw hole, maybe the cutter has run away to hide (I hope for your sake in the bottom of the box).

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#4

Re: There's a little thingie in the box...

Dale Stansbery

If there's nothing about it mentioned in the instruction sheet for the 77, it probably didn't come with it. I agree that it looks like a spoke pointer, and the previous owner may have tried to use it to knock the corners off the end of square stock to male it easier to get them started in the 77.

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#5

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

Re: #22 Dowel Sharpener

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

Your "thingie" is a #22 dowel sharpener, which, since it has a round shank (instead of tapered square) was made in 1953 - right before they dincontinued them.

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#6

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

The #77 is quite a valuable 'collectable.' It was made from 1911~1969. It was originally supplied with only a 3/8" cutter, so the other cutters you have are (were) optional accessories, and they have a separate sales/collector value as well.

Where can I find a friend like this guy?? :D

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#7

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

TomD

Canada, This kind of thing is pretty common up here. For that mater, someone lives next to the Lees.

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#8

Re: #22 Dowel Sharpener

Denis Chenard in Ottawa

If that's a dowel sharpener (and I'm not doubting you in any way), they sure do ship them unsharpened! As it is (it looks untouched) I don't think you'd be able to sharpen hard butter with it :D

What should be used to sharpen the tool, file, slip stone, other? There's not much space to fit a sharpening thingie in there...

And, since it has a round shaft, should it be used with (gulp) an electric drill? :O

Thanks for the info!

DC

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#9

Sorry, had another question

Denis Chenard in Ottawa

I would tend to believe that the box is original, but somehow I have doubts (despite the sticker on the box). The bottom and sides are made of some wood I'm not sure of (thought pine at first, now I'm less sure, although it is lightweight), but the top is plywood and is just nailed on top of the box. Is that usual?

Thanks again,

DC

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#10

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

Re: #22 Dowel Sharpener

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

The round shank is indeed for use in an electric drill. They changed from the original square (bit brace) shank in the early 50s for that very reason.

The only picture I have is a drawing from John Walter's 'Stanley Guide,' and it shows just a sharpened edge on the casting. I'd guess a thin, flat file would be the sharpening tool of choice, maybe followed by a slip stone.

I can't speak to the box's construction. What shows in your picture looks original, but OTOH, Stanley was using cardboard boxes clear back in the 20s, so you box might well be a user-made replacement. I dunno.

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#11

Moses Yoder

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

Moses Yoder

The little thing is a dowel pointer, as mentioned. I believe it would have been used to "start" the round on the dowel before it is inserted in the machine. It does not need to be very sharp, as it simply peels the grain off the end of the rod, similar to a pencil sharpener. I would try it to see how it works before attempting to sharpen it.

I wonder if your friend knows he could sell this thing for $600? That's a lot of pizza and beer.

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

#12

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

Re: A little (!) gloat,  - value

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

Yeah, I didn't mention values in my earlier replies, but the (1994) Walters "Guide" put the value of the 77 at about $400, and the extra dies at $100 each. The dowel pointer is also valued at about $40.00.

Prices fluctuate a lot on old tools, but right now, I'd say the 77 & 22 are worth at least the 1994 values, and probably something more.

The 55 that he got as the first gift is worth $400, or so, too.

I recently got a 55 (1922 vintage, new, in box) in trade for some work I did for a friend. I valued the work ar around $500, and thought the 55 was a reasonable trade.

Re: A little (!) gloat, part deux

Edited #13
Denis Chenard in Ottawa wrote:

There's a little thingie in the box...

Denis Chenard in Ottawa

...that I can't make sense of... Maybe it is not part of that machine?


(apologies for the pic, shiny metal stuff is a b**** to shoot)

This thing looks like the opposite of a countersink, in the sense that I could see it being used to round off the ends of dowels, except that the "cutter" is not sharp by any means.

Can anyone gve me an indication of what it's for? If that's of any help, there's a "No. 22" engraved on the shaft, just above the shank.

Any help in identifying this thingie would be appreciated...

DC

it’s a Stanley #22 dowel sharpener

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.