Thread: Union #8 Plane

from http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cs....phtml#results

Union was a company started by some infestors around 1860ish, making castings.
They (the investors) bought the Derby Plane Manufacturing Co, who in turn had bought Birmingham Plane Co.
Started making planes in 1900 (after buying Derby??)
Bought by Stanley (some say Miller Falls ) in 1920, who continued to make Union branded planes till the 1940's.

I've seen them around, usually much less than Satanely's and from what I've read the early ones are thin castings (like most manufacturers) and the later ones are good users.
I like the very thick, laminated, blades. I grab the ones that come my way for the blunt/sharp boxes.

Doesn't help with the history, but for a long time my #8 has been a Union #8. It's been a wonderful plane. Seen here alongside my Sargent #6, both C models, both fitted with new irons. The Union with a stock LN, the Sargent with a Hock.





Take care, Mike

Welcome back Bodgy.

Got a photo?

Tex

Like to see a pic Bodgy too.

Thanks Mike for the pic. Whats that little flash plane tucked in behind there ? Not one of those 'OMG' tools is it ?

Like Apricot I'd like to say thanks to Mike for the picture. The little plane in the background looks like a LN Butt Mortise Plane to me. Do you find many uses for this one Mike? I have often wondered how many different things this little chap can do.
Regards
SG

Thanks for the responses. I'll post a piccy when I get the plane restored to my idea of its former glory. Very good condition, so not much to do.

I've been off the Forum for a while due to pressure of work. Unfortunately thats likely to continue for a few months, with added pressure of all these Xmas drinks, dinners, parties etc, (Bah Humbug) no time to scratch myself.

Should have the #8 finished before Xmas. Now I need to make another cabinet to hold them all.

http://pages.friendlycity.net/~kruck...ol/history.htm

Sorry for getting back so slow to the forum...

Hey, Jake--not an OMG tool in that pic I'm afraid. Actually, that picture is old. In fact, I just sold both those planes, the #8 and the #6.

That is a the LN butt mortise plane. I had a bazillion doors to do once and bought it for that. Worked a treat. So much so I used it on many free-standing cabinets as well. But, alas, I sold it off last year when I started getting serious about saw building.

Heck, that router plane in the box is sold off too. For that matter, after I got started selling tools for the saw biz, I really cleaned house and called it my quest for less. I did sell off a few tools I shouldn't have, but those have been replaced.

About to sell off a few more metal planes, though. Made a decision to return to all wood planes.

Take care, Mike

Good to hear from you Mike. Bit concerned. Thinking you were in some kind of strife, after reading you had a very bad week... and hadn't seen your posts.

I've never used the mortise plane. Be an experience.

I think its interesting that your going 'all wood' like that. A nice change, rather than whats expected uno...Hang on !...... there'd be some goldern LV's you'd be keeping though ? yes ?

So, what you going to use instead of that #8 ?

Hi Jake,

Yes, I had a rough two weeks, with this last week being way bad. I'll be posting the results on the UK forum momentarily.

I picked up several woodies needing just a touch of rehab. For the long jointer, I picked up a wonderful 28" long razee style jointer. Wonderful tapered irons on all of them.



Take care, Mike

Happy New Year to all, and here's hoping for a 5-0 whitewash at the SCG.

As promised some piccies of the latest, and final, addition to my plane collection.

As the more astute may see, the cap iron is too small and I'll need to find one of the required width. Apart from that, and a little pitting on the sole for'ard of the mouth and to starboard, its fine. Interestingly, what I though was patina, on the cheeks, looks more like blueing after cleaning up! Maybe done later? I'd love to have an approximation of it's age. As can be seen, the only marking states, simply, No 8 UNION.

Unfortunately the collection has outgrown the cabinet, so you see the #8 sitting on the beginnings of the mother of all tool cabinets.

PS... Just re-read the posts, Clint - thanks for stuff on Ohio Tools, and FYI the sole on my Union is as thick as any of the other planes I have (and love). Must have been a later model which dates it as 1900-1940 I guess.

Mike, looking at your old pic, the #8 Union you show seems to have something stamped on the forward upper sole? Mine don't.

My blade is marked "Ohio Tool Co, Thistle Brand, Auburn NY USA, Pat Applied for".
The hole in the blade for the lever cap bolt is to the bottom of the blade and is 6 sided, rather than a circle.
You can clearly see the line of the 'laid on' (laminated) 1/16" of 'good steel'. Blade is 3/16" at the bevel and tapers off to about 1/32" at the other end.
A hefty bugger.

I'll send an email to a bloke I know in the US, see if he can get you an Ohio lever cap for a No8, or an early unmarked Stanely one, if you want? Another blade as well?

The lettering was simply No 08

Yours looks clean. I'd take Clinton up on the iron. Those laminated buggers are great steel.

Congrats on needing to build a new cabinet. I think !

Take care, Mike

[quote=Clinton1;
I'll send an email to a bloke I know in the US, see if he can get you an Ohio lever cap for a No8, or an early unmarked Stanely one, if you want? Another blade as well?[/quote]

I'll take you up on the offer, but insist on paying this time - not like the 78 bits.

Let me get the exact measurements and I'll PM you

Thanks