The little things

Does anyone know where to get wooden handles and hold down screws for Stanley or Bailey No.4,4.5,7 Planes?

Hi Harry.

If your from melbourne you could give Stanley Tools a call on 9459 1144.
There at 58 Dougharty Rd in Heildelberg.

If they can only supply plastic handles you may be able to get the handles turned for you.

Don't bother contacting Stanley; they have no sense of history whatsoever, I've found. I contacted them a while ago to ask them what sort of timber was used in Australian Stanley planes and was informed that Stanley planes weren't made in Australia! When I pointed out that this was not so, they were unable to refer me to anyone within their organisation who could help me. Even though I collect old planes, I'm still not actually sure what sort of timber was used by Stanley Australia or whether the handles were imported or not.

Anyway, there are several suppliers of wooden handles and knobs for Stanley planes in the USA. Prices are pretty reasonable, even for rosewood. I'd start with Garrett Wade as they have a very good mail order service. Try www.garrettwade.com (http://www.garrettwade.com)

thanks gino sorry for the late reply. I've since found an old bloke in Tasmania who reckons he can help out with the parts I need.

Thanks RNFK I think my search is over - for now.

Seems to me there is a lot of call for Stanley/Bailey Plane wooden handles within the people I have asked about obtaining them, does anyone know anyone that can shape them. I'm awaiting a drill press then I'm going to give it a go.

Harry,
I have an old Australian made plane (from the second hand shop) which came sans handle and screws. The handle was made from some 20mm silky oak. The profiles ( a method of drawingthem ) are often found in the old tech drawing books.If you have truble email me and I'll scan some in a wek or two and send them to you.

The hole drilling can made simple by alinging the drill ( mounted in drill press with a peg mounted on the drill table. The end of the drill is aligned to the end of the peg. Don,t forget to counter sink the step for the cheesehead screw. I did not bother with a slotted screw but opted for a hex socket cap screw in stainless instead. This should be available at the bigger centres from a retailer specialising in bolts ,screws and fixings.If I remember I had to cut and lengthen the screw as the shank was not long enough.
The handle was the carefully rounded over on a router table using a suitable bit. The timber handle was treated with Penatrol.
Easy ? sort of!

Grahame

Thanks Grahame for your advice, it can take me awhile to repond to peoples kind responses and this is no exception, so I hope your still around to receive this. About the old tech drawing books well I wish I could say I had them because thats the way I should have gone but my parents thought it best to send me to a school for academic pursuits, yeh well didn't mix to well with me who is much happier making things anyway such is life. Getting back on track I'm curious to know where the name "cheesehead" screw came from.

Thanks again
Kind Regars
Harry

Gooday.

Because the screw head looks like cheese in the round.

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Ian (Robbo) Robertson
"We do good turns every day"