Thread: Stanley # 4 repairs

Originally Posted by Burnsy

I have just picked up a cheap number 4 off ebay. It needs a front handle, tote and the studs and screws for both. I have searched and found that some here have made their own tote and handles and thought I might have a bash if I can't get the bits I need on the cheap.

My subsequent query is has anyone cut their own studs from a length of threaded rod or similar? Any ideas on what alternative, readily available hardware can be subsituted for the screws? It is not going to be a museum piece and will spend most of it's time in my ute but I would like to make it look as good as possible and not just run a bolt through the length of the tote.

Cheers,
Mike

Mike

Stanley screws have an oddball thread, so you need to tread carefully here. Standard threaded rod (or other metal thread screws) will not have the right pitch to fit the tapped holes in the plane.

Three solutions:

1. Buy Stanley replacements from Hans Brunner, Stu Minuskin or ask if someone here will give, sell or swap you what you need (I see you have already done the third - I will have a look in the shed in the next coupla days to see what spares I have).
2. Cut the thread you need onto a rod of the right diameter - needs either a metal lathe or to use the technique described here (which needs an old-fashioned split die).
3. Pick up another Stanley plane to cannibalise for the parts.

Best of luck

Cheers

Jeremy

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">It is a strange thread so you won't be able to buy a bolt for it. The pitch is the same as a regular 1/4 inch Whitworth which are easily obtainable but the diameter is thinner. You may be able to get away with some threaded rod/bolt and thin down (with a file) only the parts that need to engage which is not all that much. There's a bit of trial and error and if that doesn't work, source the parts elsewhere.
</TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on">
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>