Thread: Scraping my Clifton no.5 hand plane

Originally Posted by Machtool

I walked out of work, a few hours ago, kicking myself for not mentioning that. I had thought about it first thing this morning.

Generally, once you have made the decision that something is enough out of plane to scrape it. The first thing you would do, is a single or double break up pass, just to put a texture on the surface, so it takes the blue better. It takes negligible material off, you just get a better read. I really like your description of “smeared” on a polished surface. That’s what you get when you don’t break up.

Having said that, it was pretty obvious your plane was concave, so you attacked it from each end. That’s what I would have done. Break up or no break up.

Tin ####. You know there are 28 guys here that hate you now. . (Joke) Those being the Scrapfest 1 & 2 guys that paid $300 bucks for the privilege. You have sort of grasped the first %30 - %40 percent.

You Aussie blokes are freakin me out. They get a $60 dollar granite flat and a $100 bucks worth of scraper and carbide, with a bit of blue thrown into the deal. Next minute they are attacking some name brand plane. We fight above our weight.

Phil.

Thanks Phil,
I did think to myself at one stage that i'm getting this free help and its not really fair on the scrapefest goer's, but once again the help from forum members has been great. The only other source of info i have got is from Nicks utube vids. A mention of a brayer here, a note about black spots there.....I tend to have a pretty good memory for stuff i'm interested in.

Not to talk myself up, but i'm very lucky to be very good at picking up any manual task, i think i just have a good "feel" for things. This of course is counterbalanced by my terrible social skills. If we ever meet just remember to bring your flash cards, so i know in what context you are saying something. I have lived with my wife for 10 years now and she still threatens to make flashcards for me, or at least a book with different facial expressions so i can work out which one fits.

As i think i have said before, i would come to another scrapefest or machine re-building fest. The last one was held on Arthur's birthday so that was not an option.

Thanks for the tip on the lapping paste GQ, I think i'll get some and give it ago. To be honest i actually find my Pops old bailey no5 a better plane, and the Clifton somewhat "lifeless" despite the price tag. What I'm really saying it is the one plane i own that would hurt me the least it i f####d it up.

Next on the list is something a bit more challenging. I have a 1200x200x150 piece of cast iron angle off an old multiborer. I was going to cut 3 250mm long angle plates out of it, add some webs and scrape square. Then i'll cut one into 2 smaller angle plates. Of course i'll need to make a scraper sharpener first, and my back is telling me i need to get my height adjustable, rotating scraping table finished (Freddie)

Originally Posted by Machtool

Tin ####. You know there are 28 guys here that hate you now. . (Joke) Those being the Scrapfest 1 & 2 guys that paid $300 bucks for the privilege. You have sort of grasped the first %30 - %40 percent.

More power to him, I say. Great to see someone having a go and making progress.

Having a known flat surface gives you a big start in this caper I think. Everyone should get their own tombstone.

PDW

Originally Posted by PDW

More power to him, I say. Great to see someone having a go and making progress

Just to be clear, and make sure there’s no offence, that’s why I included "(Joke)"

If someone grabs it by the balls and attacks it like that, I couldn't be happier.

Phil.

I admire you more and more everyday Phil. You would think your job was done after the classes had finished but you keep giving advice and encouragement long after the dust has settled. I would now show twenty thumbs up but this damn phone.....

Phil

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

I admire you more and more everyday Phil. You would think your job was done after the classes had finished but you keep giving advice and encouragement long after the dust has settled. I would now show twenty thumbs up but this damn phone.....

Phil

I had the same thoughts.
regards
Bruce

Hi Ewan,

Very impressive for a first time scraping project. It looks like you've got the "touch"

Good stuff

Now I can't wait to see how GQ goes removing the corrugations from his LN 7C...

Regards
Ray

PS +1 to what Phil and Bruce said..

Hi Ewan, Can't tell from the photos but did you screw the frog back in before flattening the bottom?

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi

Now I can't wait to see how GQ goes removing the corrugations from his LN 7C...

Regards
Ray

PS +1 to what Phil and Bruce said..

Ray...I think I figured out how to do it with beer. Or similar currency as accepted at my friendly neighbourhood surface grinder owner's place. Or just use my old #8 which took me 16 hours to flatten, starting with an angle grinder. (it came out of a shed fire profoundly pringled.)

Originally Posted by localele

Hi Ewan, Can't tell from the photos but did you screw the frog back in before flattening the bottom?

Yes ... I was wondering ... given the degree of flatness you are aiming for/achieving ...

It is suggested to have the blade in place, under tension, drawn back when 'lapping' with w+d or whatever.

Do you think it will make much difference? This exercise should be able to determine that pretty conclusively I should think.

Thanks,
Paul.

Originally Posted by localele

Hi Ewan, Can't tell from the photos but did you screw the frog back in before flattening the bottom?

Hi,
No the frog was still out. I'll clean the blue off, replace the frog and blade and re-spot, then we can compare. I was taught by a German master-craftsman, and he always just removed the blade for lapping. it will be interesting to see. Now the frog mating surfaces are flat though, there should be very little distortion in fixing it down....i hope.

Originally Posted by simonl

Worst I can do is butcher my Record No.5

I was just thinking the same Simon

Originally Posted by Machtool

I walked out of work, a few hours ago, kicking myself for not mentioning that. I had thought about it first thing this morning.

Generally, once you have made the decision that something is enough out of plane to scrape it. The first thing you would do, is a single or double break up pass, just to put a texture on the surface, so it takes the blue better. It takes negligible material off, you just get a better read. I really like your description of “smeared” on a polished surface. That’s what you get when you don’t break up.

Having said that, it was pretty obvious your plane was concave, so you attacked it from each end. That’s what I would have done. Break up or no break up.

Tin ####. You know there are 28 guys here that hate you now. . (Joke) Those being the Scrapfest 1 & 2 guys that paid $300 bucks for the privilege. You have sort of grasped the first %30 - %40 percent.

You Aussie blokes are freakin me out. They get a $60 dollar granite flat and a $100 bucks worth of scraper and carbide, with a bit of blue thrown into the deal. Next minute they are attacking some name brand plane. We fight above our weight.

Phil.

It was money well spent on my behalf. It's very liberating to be able look at precise mating parts on my machine and have the confidence to say I reckon I can improve that! AND also the nouse to know when I'm probably out of my depth and perhaps should not mess with it. I dare say the latter is the hardest skill to acquire... for me anyway.

Good work Ueee!

Just a quick update on the plane, i put the frog, handles and blade back on today. I then spotted the base again. The is no change to the spot pattern, so i would say that there is no need leave the blade or frog on for lapping or any other form of flattening plane soles. For this plane anyway! Maybe a standard stanley or record may be not as rigid and will move, but i doubt it.