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My STANLEY BENCH PLANES These are my current cast of characters, my users (and users to be) that I have accumulated from flea market finds. I must admit that this looks like a collection, but I can't help it if the only planes I find worth buying are Stanley's. Most of these are not what I call tuned-up, which is my term for cleaned, fettled, and sharpened. Some need new wood and others need parts, but they are what I have now. Some will be replaced as I find more of my favorite "TYPE" of Stanley plane. And just because they aren't pretty doesn't mean they don't work well.
No. 8 Type 4 Cost $16 + $10 for a blade I found this one at an Antiques Mall. The top of the frog is broken off, it didn't have a blade, plus a black paint job over the entire body. But it's the only #8 I've encountered in the wild, so I bought it. I have already acquired a blade, and even with the factory edge on the blade, this thing works like a champ. The broken frog doesn't seem to affect its performance but will be replaced when I can.
No. 7 Type 8 Cost $68 I let frustration get the better of me on this one, I resorted to e-bay and ended up paying to much for it. I couldn't seem to find any worthwhile #7's or #8's locally (before I found my #8). Needs some TLC but is a sound plane, an earlier model without frog adjuster I had a difficult time getting it set, but once sharpened and set it works well. I'm sure that with a tune up it'll be a good user if not real pretty.
No. 6C Type 11 Cost $30 The guy at the flea market wanted $60 for this plane, which he was quick to tell me when I picked it up to look it over and fondle it. So I put it back on the table, he asked what I'd give for it, to which I replied that I only had $30 left on me but I would gladly give him that amount. He replied as how he couldn't do that, so I said I understood and walked on...he let me get almost 10 yards before he called me back and took my money.
No. 5 1/2 Type 19 Cost $14 A fortunate find this hefty fellow has become one of my favorites almost from the start. The mass makes it an easy plane to use for rough work. Set rank with a wide mouth it will devour a piece of rough firewood delivering a square-ish chunk of wood in no time. I have been particularly impressed with it's flattening work on some rough sawn red oak that I have been using lately.
No. 5 1/2C Type 11 Cost $12 My corrugated model of the 5 1/2 is a Type 11 which is my favorite type. Needing wood at both ends, it is a project plane that I plan to keep.
No. 5 1/4 Type 13 Cost $50 I just couldn't pass this one up, even though I could only haggle the price down from $70 to $50. More than I am usually willing to give for a plane. A very nice plane with good wood and most of its japanning.
No. 5 1/4 Type 19 Cost $6 This is a parts plane bought simply because it has good wood. The price was less than a good knob would cost. It needs a blade, chip breaker, and frog adjusting tab. So it's a matter of if I find parts for this one or I need parts from this one.
No. 5C Type 5 Cost $15 Another corrugated model, I must confess to a weakness for Mr. Stanley's "C" models. It's a purely visual thing...I can't tell the difference in performance.
No. 5 Type 15 Cost $15 A nice later model plane...
No. 5C Type 19 Cost $25 This is a plane that recently underwent a cleaning and freshening, it has been tweaked a little and needs only to be sharpened to be put to work. The Type 19 was the last before the quality began to decline.
No. 4 1/2 Type 9 cost $6 The "Black Plane" as I will always think of it; I found it at the flea market sitting beside a beautiful pair of Miller Falls planes "mint in the box". The "Black Plane" in its Krylon spray bomb paint job covering everything but the sole, was bought almost as an after thought. The total for the Miller Falls 9 & 14 plus the 4 1/2 came to $40. (They can be seen in Flea Finds) Because this plane had to be stripped of the black paint with Lacquer Thinner I went ahead and restored it to the look I like. The refinished knob and tote were done with Boiled Linseed Oil and 8 or 10 coats of 2# cut amber shellac. And the picture can't do them justice...
No. 4 1/2C Type 5 Cost $8 The other side of the real good buy, the plane above was found very heavily rusted, pitted and covered in gunk of some sort. I had to dig sand from the recesses under the frog and it wasn't loose or new (it smelled like my grandmother's earthen cellar!). Someone in the past had used a grinder of some sort on the lever cap and the sides; by the time I work the sides smooth, they will be very thin compared to an original. Will it affect the use? Time will tell...
No. 4C Type 11 Cost $20 My FAVORITE plane, and also the first plane I found when I went in search of old tools. This plane was restored two years ago and is already regaining its patina. This is the plane I reach for most often, and is my wispy shavings plane. Yes, some of that patina is r...
No. 3 Type 13 Cost $15 This one is a little sweetheart of a plane. I use it most often as a "block" plane to round edges and face short lengths of edge. In a booth full of glass and kitchen stuff, I think the lady had memorized the term "plane" and marked at $35 she seemed to be pleased when I offered $15 (she was busy discussing something with another lady) and cheerfully took my offered bills.
My corrugated model of the No. 3 just happens to be the only Bedrock plane that I own. A tool dealer who I have spent two years cultivating a relationship with (an older gentleman who is no longer steady enough to do woodworking) bought this from his neighbor, who's grandfather had owned it, for $20. The dealer said he knew I'd want it so he stuck it back for me, when I said that he could get a lot more from a collector, he told me he would rather I have it to use and that he was making a 50% profit which was good enough for him. You are not likely to see a No. 1 or No. 2 Stanley pictured on my site unless I find the proverbial $5 garage sale treasure. The End (for now) roy
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