Thread: 4 sleeps to go - plane talk,

4 sleeps? Can you sleep at all on Thursday??

On friday I'll be baking muffins (and then rearranging my toolshed)

dammit ! I hate miscounting!!! whats it they say " measure 2wice and cut once ?" Ok - so take off a rep point

To give you a clue I saw a brand new Stanley/Bailey one in Bunnings yesterday for about $130.

I dont think I want a new one - from what I gather on this bb is that they are not much chop - ive seen the ones from bunnies and they look a bit cheap and nasty. i suppose that is why im looking forward to the wws so I can have a look at the old ones and see what they are like. I remember in AWR there was some bloke on the south coast that recon'd old planes and sold them - i suppose I dimly hope that he or one of his analogs will be there too...

cheers

There certainly are people that sell secondhand tolls at the WWW. At least there were the last couple of years.
Of course if you buy a fettled old plane you're going to be paying the person for the time they invested in doing it up. Have you thought about getting one on Ebay and doing it yourself? Could be a cheaper alternative.

Cheers
Craig

I bought a new Stanley no 5 a year or so ago, it’s basically okand after a lot of fettling to get the sole and blade flat it works well.

Biggest problem is that both of the plastic handles have cracked in normal use, guess I need to make or look for timber replacements.

Cheers Dave

Davo,

If I was you I would be very keen to find out why the plastic handles cracked before I purchased or made new ones. If it was because of dropping or something like that, OK but if normal use is cracking plastic handles then wood handles won't last very long either.

I have only 2 Record Planes, a block and a No 4. I recently sold my No 7 but the plastic handles on the No 4 and No 7 lasted me for quite a few years without breaking.

- Wood Borer

Don't think i've ever dropped it, I have no idea what happens to stuff when i'm not there mind you but there are no other dents etc, I have an older number 5 and a 4 with wooden handles and they are just fine after a large amount of use.

Maybe there was a bad batch of handles or something

Cheers Dave

Zed.

Neil and Pauline will be at the show but alas I will be here looking after the board.

And YES they like muffins,

Have fun now

Originally Posted by

Zed.

I will be here looking after the board.

How we gunna get up to shennannigans now

Originally Posted by

Zed.

Neil and Pauline will be at the show but alas I will be here looking after the board.

And YES they like muffins,

Have fun now

, you can go to the show as well, as Ozwinner has offered to do your job of looking after the board.


Peter.

Yippeee....Ozwinner's going to be in charge!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Lock up your daughters!!!


Zed,

I have found the ultimate solution to your plane dilemma!! Browsing in SuperCheap today, found a #5 knock-off for $30.00.

So now you can buy new, have the fun of restoring a plane, buy a decent blade for $80 and get a half reasonable tool (maybe) saving the admission cost of the show, and all those phone calls fruitlessly looking for a second hand one.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Respectfully yours,

P

I have 2 number 5's. The first one is a maybe 20 year old English made version. Had a plastic tote & knob, which I replaced with Redgum. Came up nice after tuning, and works very well.

My second one I bought off eBay. It's a type 11 US made, 80 odd years old. Probably one of the best types made IMO. Rosewood (low) knob & tote. Tuned up very nicely.

The English #5 is heavier, but the US made #5 is definitely nicer to use. It's hard to define really, I just prefer it - seems to take a nicer shaving and be easier to use. I have them set differently and will pick up one or the other depending on the job.

Both planes have standard original blades. I'm planning on trying out a blade or two from Academy, but the standard blades do work well.

I enjoyed the process of restoring these two. The two combined cost me less than a new one.

My advice - learn as much as you can, buy slightly neglected older used tools and tune them up yourself. Great learning experience and very satisfying. You will not get the best out of any plane until you begin to really understand how they work, and restoring it yourself is a great way to learn.

And don't be beating me to the good stuff on the used tool stands

I've lloked at those used tool stores before & thaught the prices were more than I wanted to pay.
Better bet is trawl the second hand stores & watch the trading post like a hawk.
I picke up my first no 5 years ago at a second hand store for $50 It was fine sole was prety good blade & keeper needed a little work about 2 hrs all up but it cuts a nice shaving.

last week end I picked up a whole drawer of planes for a couple of hundred bucks.
six planes & a spoke shave.
3, 4, 4.5, 5 & 5.5.
all need quite a bit of work but they will come up nice.

Keep your eyes open & your wallet furmly shut till the right deal comes up.

cheers