So I bought this old Stanley Bailey 5 1/2 type 11. 20 Euro ($25.00) in Belgium. Real nice shape, flat sole, solid handle and a good sharp iron. But I couldn’t get the iron to protrude far enough to do anything. Then I figured out the the guy I bought it from must have put a #4 Iron in place of the original. It’s about a 1/4″ thinner than the openning.
No problem, I just order me up a nice Hock replacement and I’m in business, right? No so much…. The Iron is perfect width, the openning at the mouth of the plane is 2 5/16 instead of 2 3/8″. So, do I file out the plane body or grind the iron. All this will nave to be done by hand.
Any advice will be greatly apprieciated.
Replies
From Patrick Leach's "Stanley Blood and Gore" at http://www.supertool.com
#5 1/2 Jack plane, 15"L, 2 1/4"W (2 3/8" 1939 on), 6 3/4lbs, 1898-1958.
A wider and heavier jack plane for rougher work. These make good planes for preparing broad areas such a truing panels.
Be careful when searching for replacement irons for these planes. Take note of the change in the iron's width. The older planes have to have an old iron made prior to the change in width; you'll have to use an original, if you need a replacement, as this width of iron is unique to this plane.
Anyway, if it were me, I'd grind the new iron rather than risk messing up the mouth of the plane or weakening it.
Edited 12/25/2006 2:45 pm ET by Samson
Samson,
Thanks for the insight. I'm stationed in Germany so it's off to the machine shop with a translator.
Larry
HomeHack
Lie-Nielsen makes a 2¼" Stanley replacement iron for your plane:
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=512
It's the one labeled "BL-ST-5.5" about mid-way down the page. If you're not familiar with LN's goods: Nice quality A-2 tool steel, double-tempered and cryo-treated. Very good edge-holding ability. Every bit as good or better than the Hock.
[They also make the 2-3/8" iron (for the newer #5½, #4½, #6 and #7).]
No need to do any filing, etc.
Beste Wünschen auf ein glückliches und sicheres Neues Jahr!
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
The old 5 1/2's used 2 1/4 inch wide irons, a unique size, I think, in the lineup of bench planes. I use a "Hickory" iron on mine that clocks in at 2 1/4 inches wide - I love it for its edge-holding ability. Bought on ebay, originally from the 19th century, I think, and originally used on a transitional (wood-body, metal guts) plane. Even though 2 1/4" wide iron is fairly unique to Stanley's lineup of bench planes, a lot of transitional planes and infill smoothers used blades of that width. You may be able to find one on ebay. Hope that helps, good luck, Ed
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