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Thread: woden plane

  1. #1
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    Default woden plane

    I picked up a woden 5 1/2 jack plane in cash converters for $30 a few weeks ago. A little cleaning up and a quick sharpen and it's been doing sterling work flattening bits of redgum.

    I've done some searching on the internet, and I can't find much information about Woden planes at all. I know they were bought out by Record in the 50s, and the name was used until the mid 70s (I think), but beyond that, there is very little out there.

    I was hoping someone would be able to tell me something about the company and other planes they made, or could point me in the right direction? I have no real experience with handplaning, but I have loved using this plane, and wouldn't mind getting a few more Wodens in the distant future.

    Many thanks, Mike

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  3. #2
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    The Woden 78 is worth watching out for - I find mine a much more comfortable thing to use and easier to set up than my Stanley

    From memory they wee made in Birmingham

    Neil

  4. #3
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    IMHO They're very good planes at around the same quality level or equal to Record planes during the 30's - 60's. I've a W4, W5 & W5.1/2, plus one of their W78's and they've a nice feel to them, as well as being very well made and finished tools

    Information is fairly scant concerning their origins, apart from Woden being the trademarked trading name of a company named The Steel Nut and Joseph Hampton Ltd and based in Birmingham (Fallings Heath Works, Wednesbury). The company pre-dates Record and the following information may help;

    Record Hand Planes

    Steel Nut and Joseph Hampton


  5. #4
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    I've just yesterday acquired a Woden W78 - without depth gauge, fence or fence rods, and with a small chip out of the sole by the handle.

    From recordhandplanes.com

    Woden Jack Plane No. 5

    C & J. Hampton (Record) purchased Woden Tools Ltd from The Steel Nut & Joseph Hampton Ltd in 1961 and continued to use the Woden Trade-Mark for another 10 years.

    And from ukworkshop.co.uk - in answer to a query similar to yours:

    I surely can. (Okay, who groaned? ) They started life as Steel Nut and Joseph Hampton Ltd in Wednesbury around 1952 according to British Planemakers. However I think this date may only apply to their plane line, which started with their takeover of WS Manufacturing Co Ltd in that year. They went on until 1964 when C & J Hampton (no relation? Or maybe? No one seems to know) took them over, better known to you and I as Record Tools. Woden was SN&JHs trademark, possibly chosen 'cos it was a lot quicker to say than Steel Nut & Joseph Hampton, and they hung out at the Woden Works. Evidence suggests they changed their name to Woden Tools Ltd around 1958. Well known for their range of vices, cramps and so forth. I have a little metalworking vice of theirs and a W78 rebate plane, and very lovely they are too. Their biggest claim to fame as far as I'm concerned is their placing of a front knob on the two rail rebate plane while it was under their jurisdiction in the two rail rebate inheritance. I know, sad ain't I?

    There is a little discrepency between the two.

    HTH.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  6. #5
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    Hi Mike,
    I have 3 WS planes. WS was the company taken over by Woden and then they were taken over by Record. They are good working planes. I posted something on here a while back about them. I take it it looks a bit like this No 5.
    Regards
    John

  7. #6
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    Thank you all for that info. A couple of those sites, and the name WS were new to me. I'll definitely keep an eye out for any others in the future.

    John, mine does look very similar, but with the woden name on the lever cap.

    Thanks again, Mike

  8. #7
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    I have not yet seen a woden plane in the flesh but from your pic the transition to the record plane is almost there. It must have prompted record to get rid of the competition.
    Regards
    John

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    I have not yet seen a woden plane in the flesh but from your pic the transition to the record plane is almost there. It must have prompted record to get rid of the competition.
    Regards
    John

    Woden and Record planes from the same period are virtually identical and well made.

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by GazPal View Post
    I've a W4, W5 & W5.1/2, plus one of their W78's...
    Hi GazPal, Brontehls, Orraloon
    Quote Originally Posted by Vann
    I've just yesterday acquired a Woden W78 - without depth gauge, fence or fence rods...
    I'm hoping to make up a fence for my W78 - chances of finding a genuine replacement being about zilch. I thought I'd use hardwood for the fence and make up some rods.

    However I was hoping you might be able to help with info on the fence rods. I note that like the Record 778, the W78 has 5/16" dia. rod holes through the body. But unlike the 778, which uses screws to grip the rods, the W78 rod holes have an obstruction part-way through. I assume this is a thread, and that the rods must be threaded on the ends.

    Could you guys tell me how long the rods are and what thread is used (and how long the threaded section is)?

    Thanks in advance.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  11. #10
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    Default parts for the woden or ws 78

    Quote Originally Posted by Vann View Post
    I'm hoping to make up a fence for my W78 - chances of finding a genuine replacement being about zilch. I thought I'd use hardwood for the fence and make up some rods.
    Just saw an ad from the Australian Tool Company for the mustarka plane - looks very much as if it based on the ws (Woden) 78 or record 778 and the parts may be interchangeable and I am reasonably certain that I have seen them listing plane parts for sale

    You never know your luck

    Neil

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by brontehls View Post
    Just saw an ad from the Australian Tool Company for the mustarka plane - looks very much as if it based on the ws (Woden) 78 or record 778 and the parts may be interchangeable and I am reasonably certain that I have seen them listing plane parts for sale

    You never know your luck
    Hi Neil, Thanks for the suggestion. I googled the Australian Tool Company and found www.austoolco.com but you need a user ID & password to get into the site.

    However, I tried a Record 778 fence on the Woden W78 and found the the fence rods on the Record are at 140mm crs while on the Woden they're at 149mm crs. So the chances of the Mustarka, or Anant, or anyone elses fences fitting are decreasing. Looks like it'll have to be a wooden (not Woden ) fence.

    So now I just need GazPal, Brontehls, or Orraloon (or anyone else with a Woden W78) to advise the length and thread on the Woden fence rods....

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  13. #12
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    I will measure up my WS 78 tomorrow.
    Regards John

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    Hi Vann,

    Sorry about the delay, but I'd missed your addition to the thread. I've unfortunately no idea regarding thread type, but do know the fence rods on my W78 were longer replacements. Of little help I know, but an illustration of a situation where longer rods can be used.

  15. #14
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    Vann,
    OK I did some measurements on the WS A78 and the between center space is 149mm also. The plane is made before metric so I have given both.

    bcr 5 7/8" 149mm
    rods 3 5/16" 84.3mm
    rod dia 1/4" 6.36mm
    thread length 11/32 9mm

    Sorry I am not 100% with the thread but it is somewhere about 24TPI. I tried a few 1/4" nuts on it but none were compatable. The other thing I noticed is the holes go all the way through the body and the threads are in the center so part of the unthreaded rod goes in the hole.
    As a last resort it would be possable to use larger rod and retap the holes but I would be on the lookout for another old plane for spares first.
    This is just a hunch but the Indian made planes are likley made from old Brithsh plans so should be in imperial measurement.
    Good luck with the quest
    John

  16. #15
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    Thanks GazPal, orraloon
    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    rods 3 5/16" 84.3mm
    Thanks. The Record 778 rods are 4 1/4" long, but they're attached differently. So the WS A78 rods are a better indication of the length of Woden W78 rods (not that I have to make them the same length)

    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    rod dia 1/4" 6.36mm
    Damn. Here I come unstuck. Both the Record and Woden have 5/16" holes for the rods.

    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    ...I noticed is the holes go all the way through the body and the threads are in the center so part of the unthreaded rod goes in the hole.
    This is the same on the Woden. I'm tempted to try a 5/16" BSW tap in the holes, but I'm worried the cast iron threads may be a bit fragile and could be damaged easily if the thread is wrong.

    If I don't come up with something else first, next time I'm in Auckland I'll go out to Carbatec. They stock Carba-Tec #778 Duplex Rabbet Plane which is probably Indian, so possibly imperial. But the rods look to be held the same as the Record 778.

    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    Good luck with the quest
    Thanks. Looks like I'm going to need all the luck I can get .

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

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