Thread: Goodnight Sweetheart??

I dont have experience of the new premium planes but most planes old or new need a bit of work to get them working the way you like them. Few work straight out of the box. The main trick is a really sharp (can shave with it) blade. Then adjust the mouth for the job in hand.

Here is a link to the post in question. "http://woodwhispererforum.com/showthread.php?t=2171"

Sounds like more than just basic tuning issues.

Originally Posted by switt775

Here is a link to the post in question. "http://woodwhispererforum.com/showthread.php?t=2171"

Sounds like more than just basic tuning issues.

I thought so too but I was unsure of the expertise of the bloke doing the testing. The sooner one gets into the 'right' hands the better.
Jim

Originally Posted by jimbur

I thought so too but I was unsure of the expertise of the bloke doing the testing. The sooner one gets into the 'right' hands the better.
Jim

True enough.

Originally Posted by jimbur

The only mention so far I've found of someone using the new Stanley premium planes was on a site called the wood whisperer.
Anyone got any more on them?

Try www.ukworkshop.co.uk and go to "forums" where there are two threads (currently on page two) titled "My Attempt at a review of the new Stanley 60.5 Block Plane" and "Stanley Premium Plane". In the second of the two threads there's a link to Chris Schwarz woodworking magazine site where Chris looks over some of the new Stanleys in preparation for a magazine article (If I wasn't such a dumb ass with computers I'd post direct links )

Cheers, Vann

Well what would you expect from a STANLEY.

Originally Posted by Vann

Try www.ukworkshop.co.uk and go to "forums" where there are two threads (currently on page two) titled "My Attempt at a review of the new Stanley 60.5 Block Plane" and "Stanley Premium Plane". In the second of the two threads there's a link to Chris Schwarz woodworking magazine site where Chris looks over some of the new Stanleys in preparation for a magazine article (If I wasn't such a dumb ass with computers I'd post direct links )

Cheers, Vann

Thanks Vann - have to wait for the magazines to hit the shops it seems.
Regards,
Jim

Hi all,
I have discovered a review of this handplane in number 4 size.
There are comparisons with Lie Nielsen and Veritas.
Overall the performance in planing seems to be quite good.
You can read the full review here:
http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthr...lapsed&sb=5&o=


Cheers
SG

Thanks SG. He concludes that he still prefers the older Stanleys and of course the L-Ns etc.
Jim

From a different forum a review of the block plane:
http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/v...ic.php?t=32893

Looks like a nice little plane.
SG

Woodworking Magazine Weblog

Tweaking a New Stanley No. 4
Posted 11/08/2009 in All Weblog Posts | Handplanes

When the new premium planes from Stanley arrived, it was agony. I was in the middle of another project and had to just stare at them for a week before I could get my mitts on them.

The first tool I set up was the No. 4 smoothing plane, which I reviewed for the October 2009 issue of Popular Woodworking. I think this plane is the best of the new Stanley crop, but when I first set it up, I was grumpy.

Here's how it went:

1. I set up the iron. No problem. The face was fairly flat and easy to get set up. The bevel readily took a keen edge just like I would expect A2 to do.

2. The chipbreaker was perfect. It mated just right with the iron.

3. I dropped the iron and chipbreaker assembly into the plane and tried to set the iron to take a shaving. I couldn't. The adjuster knob just stopped cold before the iron would emerge from the mouth.

The pin here is too far up on its threaded rod. When you advance the iron, the pin jams against the larger threads before the iron emerges from the throat.

You should never force a Norris-style adjuster because there is always the possibility that you could strip the threads if the tool's lever cap is tightened too much. So I disassembled the adjuster and found the problem.

When the plane was assembled at the factory, the pin that marries the adjuster to the chipbreaker was screwed too far onto its threaded rod. When you moved the adjuster, this pin quickly ran out of threaded rod to move on and jammed.

The solution is super-simple. Remove the adjuster from the plane (you'll need to unscrew the brass knob below the plane's bed to do this). Then hold the adjuster with one hand and turn the pin counterclockwise with the other hand to move the pin down the threaded rod.

Spin the pin counterclockwise to move it down the threaded rod.

Then reassemble the plane and try again.

This Stanley plane is definitely an improvement compared to the Bailey planes the company has been making recently. The iron holds a keen edge for a long time. I have some quibbles with the tool that I noted in the review (the handles are too big for my hands and the adjuster has more slop than I like). But overall, the tool is capable of all the finesse chores required of a smoothing plane without extensive tuning.

In the coming weeks I'll be discussing some of the other Stanley tools in the line. These tools are available from woodworking retailers, including Woodcraft.

— Christopher Schwarz


Here's the pin in working position. Much better.

That is really interesting. Obviously a good plane but an inexperienced user would have had it straight back to the shop. I wonder if this is a one-off problem or whether quality control is poor.
thanks Scribbly,
Jim

Originally Posted by jimbur

That is really interesting. Obviously a good plane but an inexperienced user would have had it straight back to the shop. I wonder if this is a one-off problem or whether quality control is poor.
thanks Scribbly,
Jim

It's neither a problem or a quality control issue. The adjustor is set back so that the blade is well protected in transit.

Lie-Nielsen do a similar thing in a different way. They ship their planes with the blade well backed out and the lever cap over tightened so it won't accidentally slip down in transit.

I wonder how many inexperienced users think lever caps need to be super tight because that's the way Lie-Nielsen shipped it to them?

Originally Posted by monoman

It's neither a problem or a quality control issue. The adjustor is set back so that the blade is well protected in transit.

Lie-Nielsen do a similar thing in a different way. They ship their planes with the blade well backed out and the lever cap over tightened so it won't accidentally slip down in transit.

I wonder how many inexperienced users think lever caps need to be super tight because that's the way Lie-Nielsen shipped it to them?

I stand corrected. However, it begs the question whether this was covered by an instruction leaflet.
Cheers
Jim