Replies

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | May 31, 2007 12:52am | #1

   Steve, be carefull, the cutters came in either four wood boxes with wood slip on tops or in later times a single wood box with four slots and a cardboard slip cover. You need to be more specific on several things.

   1. how many cutters?

   2. condition of the plane ie. nickle plating at 80% or 100% ?

   3. was it in a wood box jointed, metal case or cardboard box?

   4. are ALL the parts there? (many thumb screws, depth gauge shoes-several, cam rest, long and short rods etc.)

   5. both fences with the rosewood faces in good shape?

   6. no breaks or welds?

   7.condition of handle and knob?

   Beyond the fact that every thing works as it should, check out Leach's b&g listing of Stanley planes to spot it's age group. It may have been put together from several planes and the cutters collected individually. The b&g listing may let you see if the parts have different ages.

   How much are they asking, good luck , Paddy

1. 
   philip | May 31, 2007 04:52am | #2

   Paddy, you omitted one thing: that little operators manual, without which the thing is incomplete and will not work properly. (;)Philip Marcou

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | May 31, 2007 04:36pm | #3

   Philip, how true, it usually goes to the same place as the screwdriver and lost socks(only one of course).  I think that the book is available from DOVER PUBLICATIONS or at twice the price on Ebay. Ya could survive with no book and do the normal single cut (ala  #45, #405 ) type work but not compound or asymetrical shapes. Paddy

   EDIT ON 6/5

   Sorry Steve et al. I had two problems . 1-It's not Dover It's "THE ASTRAGAL PRESS" as reported properly by others. ( I put the comment here where the bum dope was).

   2- I am sorry for the delayed response. My brand new DELL E521 with VISTA cooked the motherboard and since I couldn't get the smoke back into the case I had to call the Dr. in INDIA to ship the board from Texas? and dispatch a (thank GOD ) all knowing tech from Mass. Via East TN. who sucessfully operated and the patient is doing fine with a fresh copy of XP Pro to boot.Hoorah!!!

   I don't need no stinkin VISTA! Paddy

   Edited 6/5/2007 6:47 pm ET by PADDYDAHAT

   Edited 6/6/2007 11:34 pm ET by PADDYDAHAT

1. 
   [email protected] | May 31, 2007 10:59pm | #4

   There are a couple of sources for the manual as scanned pdf files, that are on line. 

   A google search for "stanely 45 plane manual" or "stanley multiplane manual" usually turns up several. 

2. 
   mwenz | Jun 01, 2007 06:23pm | #5

   Manuals...link farm for combi-planes at Alf Towers:

   http://www.cornishworkshop.co.uk/combinationplanes.html

   One of the best books for using combi-planes, though, is the one written specically for the Record planes called Planecraft, which is available from Woodcraft, LN and a few other sources.

   It contains not only more detail than the manuals themselves, but contains much more useful information concerning planes of all sorts, and planning/handwork in general.

   Take care, Mike

1. 
   mufti | Jun 03, 2007 12:03am | #6

               Many years ago I regarded  Planecraft as a premier source, it set back my already slow development. The problem is that it is dogmatic, must is repeated too often for my taste and it is a blatant plug for Record, mine being the 1950 edition. On the other hand, if it is read with the above in mind then, yes, it can be instructive.

   In my thoughts the trouble with books of this nature is they launch in with instruction without any forethought as to the nature of the material being treated. A craftsman of past times, having endured a long apprenticeship, already knew the limitations of various timbers and how to cope with moisture content by the time he was let loose on paying customers. That path today is rare and the learning curve so much harder. 

1. 
   mwenz | Jun 03, 2007 12:46am | #7

   Your criticism of the book is valid. It was written as a sales piece, albeit a helpful one. Not much different than watching a Cosman DVD...I think your comments re experience in-hand isn't necessarily on the mark. The main of this conversation regards a metal plow cum molding plane and its use. For this, I simply affirm that Planecraft is more thorough than Stanley's manual.The #55 and other metal plow planes are not difficult to use if one has a modicum of diagnosing how a plane is cutting (too thin or heavy a shaving), as well as has a little experience of reading grain. From there it is simply go out to one's shed and grab some scrap and practice.But how does one today obtain experience once presumed in most older texts? Only by observational doing--and having a "sense" of what the process and outcome should be. That I would maintain for many starting out in woodworking is via reading and, well, doing/trying.The hardest thing about a Stanley #55 is learning how all the pieces relate to each other--how they combine for different cutters and the like.Another reasonable route for instructions is to get the reprint of the Stanley combination planes booklet. While many choose to pay too much on eBay for the reprint, get it from Lee Valley:
   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=44906&cat=1,46096,46100&ap=2Though I like the Astragal press version for the litte bit of extra info in it:
   http://www.astragalpress.com/stanley_combination_plane.htmBoth show how to set the bits and pieces together. But...I remain ever deluded to thinking the aforementioned Planecraft is better all-around. Including the essential tid-bits on sharpening the cutters, and as much for the additional info in regards to construction, how to plane moldings and the like.Take care, Mike

2. 
   mufti | Jun 03, 2007 08:44pm | #8

              You are quite right, my comments are coloured by having had a Record multi-plane and not getting very far with it many years ago. In truth I like molding planes, though if possible take the easy way with french head cutters on the spindle.

   Having a butterfly mentality, I scan most posts for knowledge and am rarely disapointed, but have a predilection for chipping in with generalization. This however is my social life, and he has not lived in vain who dies the day he is told about the way.

   I have a Clifton multiplane and a 45, and please do not ask!