Turner 4 1/2 bench plane restoration - parts help wanted

**desbromilow** · 21st March 2016, 04:02 PM

G'Day,

On the weekend I started fixing up a Turner plane which I rescued many many years ago. It's the type with the red plastic handles - the date stamp under the rear handle is 1952.
This plane was rescued from a house which was being demolished. it had some surface rust, and I started working on it off and on over the past 15-18 years, but it spent most of its time in a large ziplock bag with an oily rag through a few house moves. For whatever reason, I took it out of the bag, and recommenced working on it - until I hit a few snags.

I know there is some pieces missing - - and the frustrating bit is I have lost them inside my "shed" somewhere...
Lessons learnt -
#1 don't store works in progress for 15 years in the big tool box only using a ziplock plastic bag to hold the parts, then pick the bag up via the top - all those minute cracks in the plastic open up with age, and pieces fall out
#2 when you take a piece out of the bag to work on it (de rust) - Put it back in the bag straight away, not somewhere else because you're moving, and hope you can remember where 4 years later.

But if I can't find them, can someone tell me if the lever cap is interchangeable with any other type? or manufacturer?
I hope that it is the correct term - the piece of metal which holds the blade (and the attached chip breaker) in the body of the plane. It's usually chromed, and has a finger toggle lever at the top which operates a cam to tighten in the blade to the frog.

I have also misplaced the adjuster and the stud, but I feel confident in being able to fabricate replacements if I can't find it.

Thanks,
Des
West Oz

**seanz** · 21st March 2016, 05:19 PM

Des
The lever cap is the same as the Stanley/Record 4 1/2, 5 1/2, 6 and 7. You should be able to get one fairly easily...maybe even a Turner one, you never know.

Don't try to fabricate the adjuster stud, that way lies madness as it has a reverse thread on it. You should be able to find one aroundabouts.

Or find cracked/broken Stanley 4 1/2 and strip it for parts.

cheers
Sean

**desbromilow** · 22nd March 2016, 09:09 AM

Thanks Sean.

I live in hope of finding the missing parts in the shed, but knowing what options I have will mean I can procure the missing parts whenever I want Murphy to present the missing parts 2 days after the postie has delivered the replacements.

thanks,
Des

Originally Posted by seanz

Des
The lever cap is the same as the Stanley/Record 4 1/2, 5 1/2, 6 and 7. You should be able to get one fairly easily...maybe even a Turner one, you never know.

Don't try to fabricate the adjuster stud, that way lies madness as it has a reverse thread on it. You should be able to find one aroundabouts.

Or find cracked/broken Stanley 4 1/2 and strip it for parts.

cheers
Sean

**seanz** · 22nd March 2016, 10:25 AM

So, not a lot of secondhand shops and garage sales in The Pilbara?

Were you looking to restore the plane, or just get it working again?

**Vann** · 22nd March 2016, 10:37 AM

I have a Turner No.5 1/2. I can check that the thread is the same as a Stanley/Record. If so, I think I have a spare stud and a beaten up wheel I could send you. However, a lot of (all?) Turners have die-cast frogs, and it may be worthwhile obtaining a complete cast-iron frog from a damaged Stanley/Record/early Falcon.

Unless you intend to restore the plane (refer Seanz's question).

Cheers, Vann.

**desbromilow** · 22nd March 2016, 12:04 PM

Sean, Vann,

I'd probably need to update my profile - I work in the pilbara still, but live (2 days per week) south of Perth.

I intend to get the plane working - I'm not one of those who restores tools and keeps them in a museum... but my shed (when built) will be like one of those "working museums" where the tools are of varied ages and types, but in use.
When I started out, I made a lot of my own tools (chisels, scrapers, etc) from salvaged materials... now I have a mix of those tools, rescued tools I've fixed up, many many rescued tools yet to be fixed (awaiting shed construction so I have the room to work), and a stable of powered tools which I use a lot (drill, lathe that sort of thing)

Vann - based on your comments about the frog, I will look around for options. The current frog appears OK - the plane doesn't seem too badly used, just neglected from the way it was found. I've draw filed the dings out of the body, and had the blade and cap iron soaking in diesel for a number of years until the last move. The blade has some minor pitting, but the rest is in quite good condition, and I am confident I can get a robust working tool out of it.
I've made do with a cheap pressed steel block plane for over 20 years, once I get this working I'll have a much better tool to work with on the bigger jobs.

Thanks,
Des

Originally Posted by Vann

I have a Turner No.5 1/2. I can check that the thread is the same as a Stanley/Record. If so, I think I have a spare stud and a beaten up wheel I could send you. However, a lot of (all?) Turners have die-cast frogs, and it may be worthwhile obtaining a complete cast-iron frog from a damaged Stanley/Record/early Falcon.

Unless you intend to restore the plane (refer Seanz's question).

Cheers, Vann.

**desbromilow** · 26th March 2016, 07:35 PM

Some success today

I found the adjuster and stud hiding in the corner of the tool box under a small piece of rag - still no sign of the elusive lever cap though

I suspect the lever cap is in a milo tin full of diesel in the shipping container - if so, it'll be 2017 before it sees the light of day.

Thanks all for the information and advice

I'm keeping my eyes open for a suitable scrap plane for parts, and will work on what I do have until then.

Thanks,
Des

Originally Posted by Vann

I have a Turner No.5 1/2. I can check that the thread is the same as a Stanley/Record. If so, I think I have a spare stud and a beaten up wheel I could send you. However, a lot of (all?) Turners have die-cast frogs, and it may be worthwhile obtaining a complete cast-iron frog from a damaged Stanley/Record/early Falcon.

Unless you intend to restore the plane (refer Seanz's question).

Cheers, Vann.

**clear out** · 27th March 2016, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Vann

I have a Turner No.5 1/2. I can check that the thread is the same as a Stanley/Record. If so, I think I have a spare stud and a beaten up wheel I could send you. However, a lot of (all?) Turners have die-cast frogs, and it may be worthwhile obtaining a complete cast-iron frog from a damaged Stanley/Record/early.

Cheers, Vann.

Hi all out there.
I am the one who mentioned the die cast frogs in other posts.
These frogs where only ever in the 4 and 5 sizes.
On some but not all Pope/Falcon, Turner and Stanley made in Aus planes.
H.

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