Turner tote out of shape

**snafuspyramid** · 12th May 2013, 04:28 PM

Today I paid the princely sum of $20 for this guy:

You'll agree that's actually quite a lot for a fleamarket plane, especially a defective one, but those familiar with Turners will understand.

2013-05-12 14.44.58.jpg

A quick clean up gave very pleasing results. I checked that the sole was flat (it is remarkably so) and that the frog and iron, when assembled outside the plane, give a nice tight steel sandwich (i.e. showing good contact). Again pretty good. No light under the chip-breaker either.

The problem is that the rear tote has become misshapen with age; the bottom of it is no longer flat. Consequently it rocks back and forth in use:

2013-05-12 14.45.14.jpg

I need to make that bearing surface flat. I can do this either by putting it in a vice and planing it flat. I would need to use an equivalent Stanley handle as a reference otherwise I'd get the angle wrong (although it doesn't need to be perfect as there's some play in the rod).

Or perhaps I could leave it in warm water or something?

Any ideas? Or otherwise sources for a new one? I could always replace this with wooden totes but where's the charm in that?

**snafuspyramid** · 12th May 2013, 06:30 PM

Or lapping?

**NCArcher** · 12th May 2013, 06:54 PM

I would try gentle heat, heat gun or boiling water, rather than take material off.
$20 is good for a Turner #4. The #5½s and #6s have been going for over $400 on eBay lately.

**FenceFurniture** · 12th May 2013, 07:00 PM

Knob & Tote $40 plus post from USA

**Doggie** · 12th May 2013, 08:31 PM

2013-05-12 14.45.14.jpg

Whats with the hole in the side of the casting ???

**snafuspyramid** · 12th May 2013, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Knob & Tote $40 plus post from USA

Nah if I wanted timber ones I'd lift them from my (now to be retired) Stanley #4.

I want specifically shiny plastic red ones.

Why?

Who knows.

I'm surprised Turners are going for that much money! They're cute and the fit and finish is exceptional, but the totes tend not to stand up that well and the frogs are often deformed (this one's pretty good, but I certainly wouldn't buy sight unseen). One big redeeming feature is that Stanley parts and threads are identical so finding replacements is not too hard.

With that disclaimer aside, they are to my knowledge some of the very best tools Australia has produced, along with Titan chisels and Dawn vices. Pope / Falcon gets an honourable mention. I've probably explained my opinion of Carter et al. in the past, so enough on that point.

I notice that the price of old Stanleys and such - especially the more common sizes such as the #5 - is increasing at a phenomenal rate. Lucky I've "invested" already. On the other hand they'll probably hit the ceiling pretty soon once people realise you can get a Quangsheng/Woodriver thingie for not much - and that many things with the word Stanley written on are unutterable ^%$.

**snafuspyramid** · 12th May 2013, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Doggie

2013-05-12 14.45.14.jpg

Whats with the hole in the side of the casting ???

Good question, I didn't notice that. Someone's drilled a hole for some reason. There's another one is a completely random spot on the other side. Perhaps to make it more aerodynamic. I guess I probably won't be able to sell it and make a fortune after all.

**pmcgee** · 12th May 2013, 08:59 PM

My info not to be relied upon without further confirmation ... but the handle might be shaved flat then shimmed up a little to keep the screw/bolt as it is. Shim material ... UHxx cutting board stuff? ... lead

... conveyor belt rubber ...

Otherwise trim the bolt a little and go with a touch lower handle.

(What an idiot ...) ... or washers. Under the bolt head.

Cheers,
Paul

**TobyC** · 13th May 2013, 02:22 AM

I like the hot water idea...but you will probably still need to flatten it some.

Toby

**snafuspyramid** · 15th May 2013, 04:05 PM

Tried the hot water. That was a bad idea. It certainly didn't make the plastic more malleable. However it did seem to make it somewhat less translucent, which ruins the effect a little.

I'll try lapping it on a granite plate.

**FenceFurniture** · 15th May 2013, 04:13 PM

You may find the plastic will return to normal.

**pmcgee** · 18th May 2013, 04:11 PM

Look to the marketplace. https://www.woodworkforums.com/f221/o...pieces-170922/

**snafuspyramid** · 23rd June 2013, 08:40 PM

The loss of translucence was fixed with a bit of elbow-grease with the Jost abrasive pads I recently acquired from FenceFurniture - they're nice! I've found myself constantly using them for all sorts of things, including building a vintage bike last week.

I attempted abrasive sheet lapping also with no luck - not really possible to make a belly go away (comes naturally with age).

I decided to get over my OCD for a few moments. Stuck a bit of paper under the front of the tote. Now works perfectly. If I felt so inclined I'd make a proper one out of a wee bit of wood.

The bottom ain't particularly flat - though it's concave not convex, thankfully. I'll get around to flattening it, maybe, one day. When I retire (on current estimates, 50 years from now).

Happily the frog is nice and flat - the soft alloy (whatever it is) used to make these frogs can go a bit weird if it's left under pressure for too long (which is why I disposed of my last one). The sides are machined perfectly square, too, which is nice.

Still no idea why those random holes are there - one of them doesn't even go all the way through. Drillin' practice?

**pmcgee** · 23rd June 2013, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

Still no idea why those random holes are there - one of them doesn't even go all the way through. Drillin' practice?

Some sort of fence attachment?

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