Thanks Thanks:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    United States Of America
    Posts
    194

    Default Can I trim a #6 hand plane & use as a #5 1/2 jack plane? Your opinion needed

    I picked up an older #6 Stanley plane cheap $20.00 and was thinking about cutting the tote end down making it a wide # 5 1/2
    Or maybe using as it is as an extra long jack plane to flatten some boards as it is.
    Sure a bedrock style frog might be great on a nicely machined #5 WR import but $159.00 is out of my budget right now.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Langwarrin, Victoria, Australia
    Age
    55
    Posts
    677

    Default

    I like the idea of keeping it as is personally. Shame to butcher a good #6.

    Also perhaps use as a shooting plane ?
    Glenn Visca

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    Use it as it is. As said it would be a shame to butcher it. With a slight camber on the blade it will be quite a usefull plane for a good range of work. Sooner or later a 5&1/2 will come along at a good price.
    Regards
    John

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Don't cut that #6 down

    A #6 is a really useful plane -- it's the tool used by NSW TAFE to train cabinet makers.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Sth. Island, Oz.
    Age
    64
    Posts
    754

    Default

    Don't you dare!

    I only read this thread as it came up at the bottom of an unrelated thread on Jacks.

    My Record 06 is a lovely "Jack of all trades" plane that performs a variety of roles. Away from home it and a Low angle 60 1/2 are about all I use for most jobs. It makes an acceptable Jack if you are strong enough to overcome the extra cutting width, and used for skewed slicing it can level and joint also. About the only task it can't reliably perform for me is for smoothing.
    Sycophant to nobody!

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Sunbury, Vic
    Age
    84
    Posts
    2,713

    Default

    I agree with above comments.
    Tom

    "It's good enough" is low aim

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Petone, NZ
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,808

    Default

    You could do what you suggest, but a No.6 is only 3" longer than a No.5 1/2 - and the same width (unless you want a pre-WW2 5 1/2 which is 1/8" narrower). Trouble is, once you've cut 3" off a plane you can never stick it back on.

    Better to use it at it's current length until you're sure you can't live with it. You can set up the blade same as you would on the proposed No.5 1/2. Just because it say "No.6" doesn't mean you have to set it up as a fore plane. I think it's Charlesworth who's set up a No. 5 1/2 "Jack plane" as a smoother.

    My tuppence worth.

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

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    498

    Default

    That is a really odd thread bump, seems it's happened before.

    I would love a No6 plane.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Petone, NZ
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,808

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ubernoob View Post
    That is a really odd thread bump...
    Huh, I never noticed the date, thought it was a recent post . I wonder how I stumbled onto that?

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

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
    Posts
    4,355

    Default

    Those dates can be easy to miss . He hopefully never cut the 6 down . Probably not after all the good advice not to.
    For a long time all I used was a 3 a 4 and a 6 . I did everything with that 6 . A Great plane size I think.

    Rob

Similar Threads

  1. Emmerich Wooden Hand Plane restoration help needed
    By joez in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 6th November 2014, 09:36 AM
  2. Jointer, Jack, Shooting, No 7 hand Plane
    By Timless Timber in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 22nd August 2013, 09:33 PM
  3. Veritas 5-1/4 Bench Plane Vs Low-Angle Jack Plane
    By Wolfs in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 30th April 2008, 01:43 PM
  4. Jack plane converted to scrub plane...???
    By Greg_stewy in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 7th June 2007, 10:59 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •