Need Help Restoring a Sargent VBM Plane
I’m hoping someone here can help me. Yesterday I picked up a Sargent 418 and a Sargent VBM (no number) at a yard sale for a minimal investment. Both had moderate surface rust, the 418 has a broken tote and the VBM has a broken frog (the section with the lateral adjuster is missing). Any way as both planes are the same width the original plan was to use the tote from the VBM on the 418, however, in the process of cleaning the rust off the body of the 418 I discovered a hairline crack running from the corner of the mouth along the sole. Additionally, after handling the VBM for a while I really like its heft and balance and think it is worth fixing if I can find a frog for it. I thought about using the frog from the 418 but the machined interface between the frog and body are different enough that I don’t think that will work.
So I am wondering if there is anywhere, in addition to ebay, that I might find a frog for it or is there another Sargent model that shares the same frog. I’ll keep looking at flea markets and yard sales but this is the first Sargent VBM I’ve ever seen. Or am I out of luck and the VBM and maybe the 418 are just carcasses for parts?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Replies
Utternovice,
VBM's are good planes, well worth fixing. Bob Kaune is the guy you want to talk too. Your new frog will probably cost more then you paid for the plane, but bet he has one. Here is his web site:
http://www.antique-used-tools.com/index.html
I'm not a Sargent afficianodo, so I can't tell you if there is another frog that will swap on, I doubt it, but Bob will know that one too.
You know, you don't need lateral adjustment to make a plane work. Just tap it with a small hammer to set the lateral, like you would an old non adjust Norris. Good luck,
Thanks!
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