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9th February 2009, 03:49 PM #1
'Zip' Mini-Plane needs a new razor-blade.
Well buy a new one I hear you say.......not so fast says I.
This is a very small plane made by ZIP and it uses a heavy-duty safety razor as the blade and it's very useful for taking the arris of softwood and will sit in my pocket and weighs almost nothing......bought 2nd hand for very little money and I like it, it's a cool, very simple, little plane.
Where do I get heavy duty razor blades for it?
Does anybody still make heavy duty razor blades?
The safety blades sold at supermarkets and barbershops etc. are far too light and to my eye less than half the thickness of the existing blade. I've tried using them but they fold under immediately on contact with timber. It also will not take the single edged scraper razor blade.
The blade that came with the plane is down to one viable edge which fortunately responded to some sharpening but I really would like to have some spares.
The blade is marked "Finest Steel Heavy Duty Blade"
Ask for pictures at your own risk as my photography skills are woeful.
We don't know how lucky we are......
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9th February 2009, 05:10 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
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Personally, I haven't been able to find even the light safety razor blades for my windscreen sticker remover. The ladies at the supermarket told me they can't get them anymore.
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10th February 2009, 09:50 AM #3
Can't even get a safety razor?
What's the world coming too?
At least I could find (light weight) safety razor blades.........so now I know for sure that they won't work.
Even searching the net for ZIP is not getting me anywhere.
Has anybody heard of this company?
By the look of what's left of the blue finish on the plane and the casting, I'd have an uneducated guess that it was made in the 50s or 60s.We don't know how lucky we are......
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10th February 2009, 10:01 AM #4
post a pic of the blade.
you can sharpen a blade on an oilstone
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10th February 2009, 10:45 AM #5
I'll do my best with the pics.....it's a double edged safety razor.....do you really need a picture?
Yes the blade can be and indeed was sharpened on an oilstone.
A replacement blade would be nice if someone still makes the heavy duty razor blades as it's down to one usable edge.
Pics in progress.We don't know how lucky we are......
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10th February 2009, 10:50 AM #6
if it's just a normal looking safety razor blade a pic will tell nothing.
Just a possible workaround, If you narrow a blade then glue it to another blade with superglue. That would give you a stiff blade body. It might or might not work.
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10th February 2009, 11:51 AM #7
I bought a box of double-edged carbon steel razor blades to put in such planes. They come in a box of 5 and each is individually wrapped in paper. I am happy to sell you one box of 5 for AUD5.00 plus postage to NZ.
But it might be better to wait until I see a photo of your blade to make sure that it is the same as the ones I have.Cheers
Jeremy
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly
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10th February 2009, 11:53 AM #8SENIOR MEMBER
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Apparently if you build a pyramid, align the vertices north / south, and put a razor blade inside overnight, the blade will sharpen itself.
Haven't tried it myself, but as a last resort you might...
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10th February 2009, 12:15 PM #9
I like the super glue idea....it might be possible to laminate two thin blades together.
A pic of the ZIP plane for illustrative purposes
A pic of the mini-plane.......it consists of the body, a razor blade, a cap iron and a wingnut. The detail that you can't see because of my atrocious photography is a raised piece that fits into the slot on the razor blade. This is the nice part of the design...loosen the wingnut and the blade can be dropped back until it's almost retracted, tighten the nut....then it can be kept in a shirt pocket. Reverse the procedure and the blade dops forward a smidge and it's good to go.
A pic of the ZIP plane between a #8 and a #220........for humorous purposes only.
We don't know how lucky we are......
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10th February 2009, 12:18 PM #10
Yep those are the fellas
Cheers
Jeremy
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly
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10th February 2009, 12:32 PM #11
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12th February 2009, 01:08 AM #12GOLD MEMBER
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Micromark in the US sell a similar plane as well as various types of razor blades - intended for light duty woodwork or craft. A good source of bulk blades too - either in small packs or 100's.
www.micromark.com
http://www.micromark.com/RAZOR-BLADE...-100,6559.html
Lee Valley also sell a similar light duty plane, they have spare blades too.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,41182,41188
Its not listed in their regular plane lineup.
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12th February 2009, 08:52 AM #13
Well done.....that's two sites I didn't find.
The 25mm wide power planer is a beaut....but I've sworn off power tool purchases for the forseeable future.
http://www.micromark.com/MICROLUX-POWER-PLANE,6674.html
I like the Lee Valley plane, though it is slightly big.
Not sure if the Lee Valley blades would fit the ZIP properly as the center slot differs from the safety razor pattern.....might be a bit too much play.
Nice to see someones still making them though.
Looks like JMK89's offer is my best bet.....I'll get the process underway as soon as this nice drop of rain we're having backs off a touch.We don't know how lucky we are......
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17th March 2009, 06:31 PM #14
Right...
Just in case anybody's interested.
I now have a working mini-plane and a supply of blades thanks to the help of one JMK89, a sterling fellow.
There would be pictures.....but due to procrastinaion, incompetence and a lack of quality (and skills to use such items) photographic equipment there will be no photo.......yet.
I do have photo of a small (freshly painted with a thin curly shaving as proof of excellence) blue blob. A photo even less descriptive than the ones above. Distinctly lacking in picturesquenessness........so imagine if you will the bare metal plane illustrated above painted once again a cheery blue colour........should really be 'hammertone' but I couldn't get that. Nevermind.
One day I will get a camera that likes to take close-up shots...... until then.We don't know how lucky we are......
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26th August 2009, 09:34 PM #15Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Location
- Frankston
- Posts
- 31
Brilliant little tool
I bought one of these things years ago when i couldn't afford a block plane (man was i
broke!)
It's such a versatile tool. I used it for harp making and so many other projects. I also ran out of blades, because they're heavy duty. One of my favourite tools though.
Brett
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