Hi everyone

Can I start by saying that this is a great forum. I've been watching it for quite some time and am very impressed with the wealth of knowledge and the willingness of forum members to share their experieince and knowledge. Also the humour and good grace that abounds. Congratulations.

I have a question about a Record No 5 plane.

But first to explain - I am very new to wood working. I cleaned out the workshop, which had become a storage area, over Christmas - just in time to get a Makita CMS as a present and a cordless drill for an adjoining birthday . As I was setting things up my mind went back to my primary school years watching my father in his work shop (the urge to work in wood probably dates back to this early conditioning!)

I recently was able to pick up a few hand tools that have survived the intervening 40 years being carted round from garage to garage by my mother. All of the small stuff like hammers, chisels and screw drivers are long gone.

One of the remaining items, though, is a Record No 5 plane. It looks to be in reasonably good condition, when I think of the conditions it's been through. It has some surface rust etc.

So to the point - I've read up on the excellent threads on restoring old planes, but also see that Record planes are at the bottom end of the market. (Would obviously love to have some of the LNs I see discussed with so much awe!)

This plane must have been purchased in the late fifties/maybe early sixties and I understand that some of the older cheap planes were pretty reasonable. How do I tell if this is one of them? Are there some particular design features that indicate it would be worth the effort to restore it (for use, not for the shelf)? What sets the old planes apart from the new models from the same makers.

If it is worth restoring, do I throw out the blade and get a good one and just work on the plane itself. Or should I work on the blade too?

As you can see, I need all of the help and advice that I can get.

I'd really apreciate some assistance with this.

(PS also included is an old chest brace and a hand drill which I'm cleaning up. The latter has lost a tooth (not sure what you call them). I guess one tooth in 40 years is not bad, though - will have to go to the local second hand place to see if I can get an old one for parts. I'm looking forward to getting the hand drill up and running - for sentimental reasons. Apart from the hammers, this was the one tool Dad used to let me actually use. Can still remember drilling holes in bits of waste. The plane and the chisels, on the other hand were strictly off limits. Last night I finished sanding off the remaining bits of paint/laquer - a dark red/chestnut colour - that I remember very well. Should I try to match the original or just varnish the timber bits?)

Cheers, and congrats again on a great site.