I am starting a new batch order this time for Stanley style Bench planes.

Fist choice is type of steel, we can get sheet's in D2, M2 and S360 from Bohler. Here are the prices for each type of sheet.

• D2 Sheet - 1000 x 3 mm x 2000 mm - $830 plus GST
• M2 Sheet - 1800 x 3.5 x 1500 mm - $1175 plus GST
• S390 Sheet - 3.2 mm - Bohler is chasing up a price for us but it would not be surprised if the price of S390 was in the $1500 plus range. (This would push the price of the final blade to about $20 up from about $10 for a D2 plane blade, and about $15 for a M2 blade).

My choice would be for S390 but that is dependent on price, and the size of the sheet. I have made the case for S390 here and here it is my opinion that S390 would give us a better (i.e. easier sharpening, a sharper edge, longer edge retention) in comparison to a plane blade made from M2, D2, and A2.

I had a look at some of the most common thickness for Stanley replacement blades, they range widely from 0.2413 mm to 0.3048 mm. I will take the lead from Acadamy Saw and will go for about a 3 mm thick blade. If we get 3.xx mm sheet; after heat treating and grinding it will be a bees dick under 3 mm. Which will place our blades around the middle of all commercial blades in regards to thickness.

Here is a list of the most common commercial thicknesses:

• M2 - Acadamy Saw Blades Replacement Plane Irons are 3 mm thick
• D2 - Ray Iles D2 Replacement Plane Irons are 0.2921 mm (0.115") thick
• A2 - Lie-Nielsen A2 Replacement Plane Irons are 0.2413 mm (.095") thick
• A2 - Clifton Replacement Plane Irons are 0.3048 mm (0.12") thick
• A2 - Hock Tools Replacement Plane Irons are 0.238125 mm (0.09375") thick and 7" long

What we need to do next is for everyone who has a Stanley, Record, Lie-Nielsen, Hock or other style blade to go out and measure with dial calipers the exact sizes of the blade and length and width of the slots and the diameter of the keyhole (the round hole). This step is critical. Based on the number provided by members we can work out the average dimensions.

We need the following dimensions:

• Total Blade Length XX.xx mm
• Total Blade Width XX.xx mm
• Length of the vertical slot (including keyhole) XX.xx mm
• Diameter of the keyhole XX.xx mm
• The distance from the cutting edge to the bottom edge of the keyhole XX.xx mm
• The distance from the top end of the blade to the top edge of the vertical slot XX.xx mm

From there I can go away and draw up the CAD files for each of the types of blades. We will make blades to fit every Stanley/Record Bench plane from a No 3 to a No 8. This would be five types of blades in total.

• Stanley No. 3, 5 1/4 (1 3/4" wide)
• Stanley No. 4,5 (2" wide)
• Stanley No. 5 1/2 (2 1/4" wide)
• Stanley No. 4 1/2,5 1/2,6,7 (2 3/8" wide)
• Stanley No. 8 (2 5/8" wide)

This will cover the most common sizes and would fill virtually everyones needs. If there is enough demand for any odd sizes then yes we can get some made up. However I would not hold your breath on that one. The more custom sizes we make the higher the price will go for everyone, as laser cutting is a real numbers game.

CAP IRONS

We can very easily have cap irons made up in the style of the Hock Cap Irons using mild steel. If anyone has a Hock Cap Iron can you post back with dimensions much like those that we need for the plane blades? All I know is that its about 3 mm thick. I will chase up a price I however estimate that it would cost under $8 a cap iron. Since it is only mild steel and will need nothing done to it out side of the laser cutting and milling the bevel. A rigid cap iron will greatly increase the performance of your Stanley Bench planes.

* Unless you ask otherwise I will assume that you will want a Cap Iron to fit your replacement plane blade

ALLOCATIONS

The following members have expressed interest in joining the Stanley Bench Plane Replacement Blade Bulk Order.

• Chesand
  • No. 4 @ (2'' wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8'' wide)
• Theodor
  • No. 605 1/2 @ (2 1/4" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
• m2c1Iw
  • No. 4 @ (2'' wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2'' wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8'' wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8'' wide)
• aaa
  • No. 4 @ (2'' wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2'' wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8'' wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8'' wide)
• haosiliu235
  • No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 5 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
• Scribbly Gum
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • Cap Iron Only
  • Cap Iron Only
  • Cap Iron Only
• Jack E
  • No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 5 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 5 1/4 @ (1 3/4" wide)
  • No. 5 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 8 (2 5/8" wide)
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 60 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
• dynoforce:
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide) - No cap irons (chipbreakers)
  • 50 x 4 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
• switt775:
  • No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 5 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 5 1/4 @ (1 3/4" wide)
  • No. 605 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 605 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 5 1/2 @ (2 1/4" wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
• silentC:
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ 2" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
• jmk89:
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 5 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 5 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 5 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 8 @ (2 5/8" wide)
• Woodwould
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
• Ironwood
  • 60 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 60 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
• mic-d
  • No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide) - No cap irons (chipbreakers)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide) - No cap irons (chipbreakers)
  • No. 5 @ (2" wide) - No cap irons (chipbreakers)
  • No. 5 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide) - No cap irons (chipbreakers)
• Vann
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide) - No cap irons (chipbreakers)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide) - No cap irons (chipbreakers)
• Woodlee
  • No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 5 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 5 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
• Claw Hama
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)
• GoGuppy
  • No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
• kevjed
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • 40 x 4 x 150 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 150 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 150 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 150 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 60 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 60 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 60 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 60 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
• Thumbsucker
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 @ (2" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
  • No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 5 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
  • --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
  • 40 x 4 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 40 x 4 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
• Brendan1152
• pommyphil
• RayG
• Slow6
• Caliban
  • 50 x 6 x 100 mm for Wooden Hand Planes
• rat52 - 6 blades

If you are interested in joining in state the number and size of each blade that you want?

ETA

I would like to get this bulk order wrapped up and delivered by the middle of the December 2008, just in time for Xmas. This gives us just over a month to get things organized.

TS
You are a glutton for punishment!
If no one else will tell this you, and I'm sure they will...however I want to be the first....You are booking yourself a place in heaven amongst all the other saints!

I'm looking at my many boxes of projects and thinking carefully....

BTW, early # 5 1/2 blades will be 2 1/2 inch, so check those.

Good luck,
Regards,
Peter

Hi Peter,
I think that the early 5 1/2's might be like mine which is closer to 2 1/4 inch.
Worth checking though
Thanks
SG

__________________
When the student is ready, the Teacher will appear.

Put me down for two at 2" and two at 2 3/8"

__________________
"I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

I second the vote for 2 1/4, but will check tonight and let you know for sure.

__________________
If you have no destination, any road will do.

WOOPS, and thanks SG.

SG is right...I had two ideas in my head and went into print to quickly, typing the wrong one...
The lever for the 5 1/2 and 605 1/2 early planes have a 5 1/2 on the back of the lever like this to ID it in the foundry / factory, the blade is 2 1/4 inch on those planes.

Regards,
Peter

I would like 1 each of:
No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide)
No. 4 @ (2" wide)
No. 4 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
No. 5 @ (2" wide)
No. 5 1/4 @ (1 3/4" wide)
No. 5 1/2 @ (2 3/8" wide)
No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)
No. 7 @ (2 3/8" wide)
No. 8 (2 5/8" wide)

If there are any generic type blades to be wade for wooden planes I would also like some of them.

I am unable to measure my blades at the moment due to the fact I am incapacitated and that they are locked in a container wrapped in oily cloth for preservation.

I'll just have to take the risk on sizes.

Cheers, Jack

__________________
"There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it's all dark."

Hi Helmut, You are getting a bit eager, my post was just tongue in cheek as I did not think you were doing Stanley sizes. I am interested, but I would like to know what guarantee there is with the heat treatment. I understand Paul and Trent both had problems initially with heat treatment giving crappy results. Are you going to give some sort of guarantee, or is it buyer beware?
sorry if this sounds a bit pointed, but the hard earned is hard earned. Thanks for all the trouble you are going to.
Cheers
Michael

__________________
"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it." -- Pablo Picasso

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaeldooley3

Heat Treating will be done by Oppy heat treatment hear in Melbourne was have used them for both batch 01 and 02 of the D2 plane blades and have had nothing but excellent results from them.

Oppy has a state of the art vacuum furnace and do this kind of thing everyday for 47 years, they are professionals and they know what they are doing. No one should have any concerns about the heat treatment.

The bugs and challenges has been worked out during batch 01 and 02, we have excellent companies who have a proven track record and that we can rely on.

Sounds fair. Leave my order as it stands

Cheers
Michael

__________________
"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it." -- Pablo Picasso

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaeldooley3

Hi Helmut,
I am interested in one blade for a number 4 with cap-iron.
I would also like to order additional cap-irons if this is possible. If this is OK I'll get back to you with sizes.
Thanks
SG

__________________
When the student is ready, the Teacher will appear.

• No. 3 @ (1 3/4" wide)
• No. 4 @ (2" wide)
• No. 5 @ (2" wide)
• No. 6 @ (2 3/8" wide)

Plus some for woodplanes

This is around how much I want but not confirmed, Depends on the final price and when we have to pay. BTW after 3 weeks If u need any help I am glad to help!

__________________

TS you beaudy.

No4 2 @ 2''
No6 2 @ 2 3/8''

many thanks

Mike

2 @ 2" and 2 @ 2 3/8" please

Peter .. I am interested in a couple of blades and iron caps for each of:

• 605 1/2: ~2 1/4" wide (I have a lever cap like in the picture you posted above)
• No.7: 2 3/8" wide

Both of these came with the Stanley V trademark blades.

I will get those additional dimensions you'd like soonish.

Cheers,
Mark

P.S. Postage would be to Sydney