Thread: Stanley #4 Plane Iron question

Originally Posted by Vann

While the future lays with your Stanley, it may be worthwhile removing the pivot pin and lateral adjuster completely, from the Groz. Lateral adjustment can then be done via the tap tap method - without hinderence from the lateral lever. Depth adjustment would still be via the depth adjustment wheel.

Just a thought.

Cheers, Vann.

Not a bad idea at all Vann. I was thinking of removing the lever too, then re-machining the recess deeper, but had no idea how I'd do that short of (roughly) grinding it out with the Dremel. Leaving it out altogether is much easier. I like lateral thinking.

That would also allow me to lap the frog surface properly, without the lever getting in the way.

Originally Posted by Humphrey9999

I like lateral thinking.

Pun intended !??!

Cheers, Vann

Originally Posted by Vann

Pun intended !??!

Cheers, Vann

Ha ha. Some would say LM*AO.
No, didn't think of it.

I'm gonna be dreaming planes tonight.

I remember reading online a guide ... was it jim davey? ... that involved removing the lateral adjuster and later replacing it.
Perhaps it was to do with fitting a thick blade.
But I can remember thinking ... bugger that ... not messing around to that extent

I wouldn't be bothered these days.

I tried a bit to find it again ... no luck. But tons of links if you google "remove lateral lever".

One that might be handy when your new one arrives ... http://www.woodcraftmagazine.com/onl...ld%20Plane.pdf

Cheers,
Paul

Originally Posted by pmcgee

I remember reading online a guide ... was it jim davey? ... that involved removing the lateral adjuster and later replacing it.
Perhaps it was to do with fitting a thick blade.
But I can remember thinking ... bugger that ... not messing around to that extent

I wouldn't be bothered these days.

I tried a bit to find it again ... no luck. But tons of links if you google "remove lateral lever".

One that might be handy when your new one arrives ... http://www.woodcraftmagazine.com/onl...ld%20Plane.pdf

Cheers,
Paul

Good stuff, Paul. I've saved this one. (Restoring an old plane.) I'll have a good read later.
So far (on the Groz) I've lapped the chip-collector breaker, smoothed it's front surface, sharpened the iron to 1200G and polished it's back edge, then adjusted the frog forward a little, but haven't cleaned up the mouth or the frog contact points etc. The Groz is good for practicing all of this stuff before progressing to the Stanley.
That's the upside of the Groz, it's teaching me more than a good plane would have, since it didn't work at all straight out of the box. Chattered and jumped around and collected shavings under the front of the chipbreaker with every stroke.

I'll do a good search later on removing the lateral lever before I actually do anything. I think I could make a better, thinner one out of harder material, then maybe use a sawn-off nail, hammered in as a replacement rivet. I keep looking at my 6" SS rule - would be perfect stock for a lever to fit the existing recess if I could bend it.

I need to introduce myself to Jim Davey sometime soon - he's local to me and a member of the Shoalhaven Woodcraft Society that I've been meaning to join.

On a side note, I noticed earlier that although most of this Groz plane is copied from a late-model Stanley, the lever cap is a copy of an early Stanley - it has a keyhole shaped hole instead of a kidney-shaped one.

I need to introduce myself to Jim Davey sometime soon - he's local to me and a member of the Shoalhaven Woodcraft Society that I've been meaning to join.

Humphrey the Kiama woodshow is next week and you could meet Jim there. He also has a sharpening day on March 23 at his shed which is also a good day

Originally Posted by Pac man

I need to introduce myself to Jim Davey sometime soon - he's local to me and a member of the Shoalhaven Woodcraft Society that I've been meaning to join.

Humphrey the Kiama woodshow is next week and you could meet Jim there. He also has a sharpening day on March 23 at his shed which is also a good day

Wow, you know as soon as I thought of the SWS, I remembered the Kiama Show, but wasn't sure when it was on. Next weekend. Must try to get there this year. I was laid up with a crook leg last year and couldn't make it.
I guess it's at the old town hall again? I'm in Nowra, just a hop, step and jump away.

Sharpening day sounds good, too. I'm doing OK with 1200G on a piece of perspex, using a honing guide, but wouldn't mind learning how to do things properly.

The Kiama show is in the Masonic hall next to the old huts

the sharpening day is a good day with lots to learn and the SWS crew that turn up are a good crew. Some of the ring ins like me aren't bad either

Originally Posted by Pac man

The Kiama show is in the Masonic hall next to the old huts

the sharpening day is a good day with lots to learn and the SWS crew that turn up are a good crew. Some of the ring ins like me aren't bad either

I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for the heads-up Pac man.

I'm bound to learn a few things - as a woodworker I'm not a bad panel beater. (My original calling. Who was it that said: If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Cliff Rogers, I think. Applies to me too.)

For anyone interested, here's another good handplane resource: -
RexMill.com Hand Planes 101 The Resource

I'd better include this one as well: -
The Superior Works

And another interesting one. Been doing my homework: -
Tuning & Testing Infill Planes