Thread: Titan plane blades

Originally Posted by Brett57

Can anyone tell me if Titan made 2" plane blades that were NOT HSS.
I have seen one with yellow cardboard folded around the lower part of the blade. It seems to have the same manufacture stamping etc. at the top of the blade,
TITAN Guaranteed Hardness tested.
The packaging says " Precision made from special high grade electric furnace tool steel .... etc.
Cheers

Not as far as I know.
The HSS was brazed to the bottom of the blade as the cutter. Stanley did the same thing after they bought out Titan
Tom

I have seen one and only one; it was on Ebay in the last 12 months. I own several HSS tipped ones including a couple in their original white and maroon cardboard packaging; never seen yellow packaging except for Stanley blades.

I agree I thought the packaging was definitely Moroon and White.
So are people of the opinion that it is most likely a HSS blade ?
No one has actually said if Titan ever made non HSS blades ?
Cheers

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

I have seen one and only one; it was on Ebay in the last 12 months. I own several HSS tipped ones including a couple in their original white and maroon cardboard packaging; never seen yellow packaging except for Stanley blades.

After Stanley bought out Titan, they marketed the plane blades with Stanley branding on the blade - and yellow packaging containing the HSS tipped blade.
It is quite possible that in the changeover from Titan, they packaged Titan blades (that were already made) in the Stanley packaging.
I have never seen a Titan straight blade without HSS tipping, but that doesn't mean there weren't any.
Tom

Cheers,
Thanks for everyone’s help. I missed it on gumtree but am now better informed. New to the Stanley plane gig.

They were great blades (the HSS-tipped ones), a revelation when they first hit the scene, and I've 'consumed' a couple in my time (actually one is probably still going in a plane I gave to my brother about 10 years ago, as I doubt he sharpens anywhere near as frequently as I do ..)

However, imo, the well-known brands of aftermarket blades are as good and in some cases better,and being thicker, they suit the planes of the post-WW2 period, giving them a more solid feel. They are also much easier to get your mits on. If you can pick up one of the old Stanley/Titan grafted blades in good condition & at a good price, by all means grab it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to chase them down unless you are a collector or need it for an 'authentic' restoration or something...

Cheers,

I’ll add to Ian’s advice; if you want a user blade look for the later Stanley HSS tipped blades; the QA at Titan was somewhat ordinary. I have several HSS Titans and Stanleys; all the Titans needed significant fettling and a couple have such huge hollows on their backs they can only be used with back-bevels. Keep an eye out for them on Ebay etc, they turn up intermittently and can be bought for between $40 (user) and $100 (unused & in original packaging).