Thread: Stanley 12-960 block plane problems

Have you got the bevel facing up? If so then check that the bed is flat and clear of any metal dags.
Regards,
Ross

Blade wrong way up would be my first guess too. I discovered the difference between bevel-up & bevel-down with my very first plane. It cost me 21shillings & sixpence, which was a LOT of money for a 12 year old at the time - my entire year's savings, in fact. First thing I did when I got it home was to pull it apart, "sharpen" the blade (given my experience & the crude stone, I suspect it was worse off when I finished with it ). You can imagine my bitter disappointment when it wouldn't make a single shaving after re-assembly. It took a knowledgeable adult about 5 milliseconds to figure out the problem.

I still have that plane 60 years on, & still use it & I often remember that embarrasing episode at the beginning of our relationship......

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

Blade wrong way up would be my first guess too. I discovered the difference between bevel-up & bevel-down with my very first plane. It cost me 21shillings & sixpence, which was a LOT of money for a 12 year old at the time - my entire year's savings, in fact. First thing I did when I got it home was to pull it apart, "sharpen" the blade (given my experience & the crude stone, I suspect it was worse off when I finished with it ). You can imagine my bitter disappointment when it wouldn't make a single shaving after re-assembly. It took a knowledgeable adult about 5 milliseconds to figure out the problem.

I still have that plane 60 years on, & still use it & I often remember that embarrasing episode at the beginning of our relationship......

Cheers,

You are far from alone.

I got into hand tools not by using them, but because my new wife said one fine day "There's a farm sale nearby. Lets go. It's fun."

I saw a bucket, half full of water, and the rest full of planes. One a pre lateral Stanley. Which at the time meant nothing to me. I knew only that it was 100 ish years old.

A scrap metal merchant was going to pay $2 for the lot, and I thought "Nope. That aint right." So I paid $5 to keep him from getting them.

Thus an obsession began. I am embarrassed looking back at how primitive my efforts to rebirth those planes were. And I sold them "restored" and assembled bevel up.

Nowadays I am an aspiring old school cabinet maker and I use some of the tools I find. And I flatter myself that I am a fairly damned advanced restorer too. At least better at that than at the using of the things.

No bevel is right way, just spent an hour removing scratches from the sole, now I have to completely strip and clean and hopefully sort out what is going on, if not I will post some pics and see what transpires, only cost five bucks, it even came with a belt pouch, I am still trying fathom why you want a belt pouch for a plane

Originally Posted by China

..... I am still trying fathom why you want a belt pouch for a plane

Sometimes it's useful keeping a small plane always within reach. Veritas style their 'apron plane' this way. Although I own one, & it's one if the handiest little tools I own, I don't carry it in my apron, 'cos I don't wear one. But it's almost always on the bench, within reach....

Cheers,

Hi China,
It may be the blade adjustment bracket that moves the blade backwards and forwards is too far down the adjustment rod. If you unscrew the rod and take it right out, then screw the blade bracket backwards up the adjuster rod. Then screw the threaded rod back into the mounting block on the plane bed.
A bit of trial and error to get it right.

Hi China,
The blade adjustment bracket may be too far advanced. If you unscrew the rod from the bed,then screw the blade adjustment bracket back towards the adjustment knob. Re-insert the rod into the bed block. They are double threaded. Just a bit of trial and error to get the right spot

Record had resistance from chippys because the cap on their block planes had a closed end.
The original Stanley's had a cap you could insert your digit into and pull it out of your pouch for a quick few strokes anywhere onsite.
The Record copies had to be gripped in the hand and as often as not would end up on the conc.
Amazing how fussy tradys used to be.
H.

Ok here are some pics , I don't think it will reveal anything, blade adjuster is not double threaded, I am coming to the conclusion that it is just a product of typical Stanley rubbish quality these days

re the belt pouch I guess it is just a matter of choice, myself (45yrs as a Cabinet Maker) i have never found the need.

P6020016.jpgP6020017.jpgP6020018.jpgP6020018.jpg

I've been on the lookout for a cheap 60 1/2 to play around with; if you're looking to get shot of it I'm interested...

I am coming to the conclusion that it is just a product of typical Stanley rubbish quality these days

China, I reckon you must be able to make it work - a plane is 'just a jig for holding a chisel' as recently read somewhere. I think that's the message planemaker is giving, too..

There's got to be something fundamental, but not immediately obvious, that's preventing it from making shavings. You'll discover what it is sooner or later, I'm sure.....

Cheers,

China, from the scratched paint at the side of the mouth I'd be wondering if somebody has taken to it aggressively with a file in the name of fettling? Does all of the bed appear to be factory ground or has it been modified?

Have you sharpened the blade, including getting the back of the blade close to flat, ideally 'actually flat'. from the photos it appears there is a massive depression side to side at the business end of the back of the blade.