Replies

1. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Jan 17, 2003 01:16pm | #1

   Hi Ron,

   Try this link for initial advice on plane cleaning & restoration. By the way, these planes look as though they're from the desirable (from a user perspective) era of manufacture, being the 1920's to 1930's.  To check this, the blades may have a SW in a heart logo on the blade.  They should tune up nicely and approach the performance of a USD200 plane such as Clifton or Lee Nielsen.

   Plane restoration to a usable condition

   I'm a trade-trained cabinet maker in Aust.  Here, we're taught to use a No6 as our general purpose plane, with a smaller, very common No4 size as the smoother.

   The No 6 is called a fore plane, and has enough length to joint boards, and enough weight to allow you to smooth panels and do general bench work, without it becoming too heavy.  I really find that this is the true general purpose plane, but everybody has a different opinion and life's too short to argue about which plane is the ideal size, etc...

   Others prefer the No5 sized (jack) plane as it's lighter. But, the blade is also 3/8" narrower.

   The 78 looks in good condition already.

   Enjoy restoring and using these - let me know if you want any tips when you start to use them.

   Cheers,

   Andrew

   
   

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   Edited 1/17/2003 5:16:51 AM ET by eddie (aust)

2. 
   BG | Jan 17, 2003 01:54pm | #2

   Ron,

   Those are good looking planes.  Perhaps what comes first to my mind is how far would you llke to go with the reconditioning.  Planewood in Katy Texas on here does some beautiful restoration..you can click on his signature and see his work.  That'll give you an idea of what is possible.  If your just interested in functional utility, as I was, I'd make a carefull assessment of the current condition.  The flatness of the sole is important.  Put some sandpaper on your table saw and marker on the sole of your plane...rub the plane on the sandpaper and see how much is out of flat.  My blades sharpened up well but there was some pitting and I had to replace one with a Hock...the others will follow shortly.  I can't advise you on the welded mouth thing....that could be a key issue in performance.

   Weather you use the #5 as the jack plane, as we do up here in Boston, where the people ae refined and church going, or the #6 as a jack plane, as they do down under in the penal colony...that is up to you....lol   

   
   

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   Edited 1/17/2003 6:49:44 AM ET by BG

1. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Jan 17, 2003 02:44pm | #3

   Hi BG,

   Thanks for the reply, but I think (hope) that you meant penal colony, not penial.

   Here's the definition of penial.  I think that it's called a freudian slip.  I can type now I've stopped laughing.  No offence taken.

   I think we would have supported the Boston Tea Party too, if the country was settled at the time.

   Cheers,

   eddie

1. 
   BG | Jan 17, 2003 02:47pm | #4

   Ah Jeez !...never had phonics in grammer school...spelling challanged...sorry....lol

3. 
   EdHarrison | Jan 17, 2003 07:49pm | #5

   Ron,

   You may want to replace the irons on the two bench planes with Hock iron from Garrett Wade or Highland hardware. Keep the original sweetheart blades (don't throw them away or anything!) - it's just that you can proabably get the planes to work better with the new irons. I have several sweetheart-era bench planes myself and at first I was resistant to replacing the irons - part of me said, "I want to set this thing up just exactly like a carpenter in 1924 would,..." but I wound up replacing the irons on all of them with Hock cryo irons - easier to sharpen, thicker and heavier and easier to get more stable on the plane's frog, and hold the sharp edge longer so you can use them with confidence longer between sharpenings. The original irons will work - it's just that you're in for more work.

   Eddie from Australia - funny post! I lived in Australia in 1991 and 1992 - Nowra, NSW. Interesting about the No. 6. I have a WWII era No. 6 that is probably my favorite plane. At the time I lived in Australia, several of my aussie mates and I did a lot of woodworking, including building a sailboat but we were mad for the latest and greatest power tools and wouldn't have given a second thought to hand tools. About to run out of my precious supply of jarrah, which I orignally bought in Perth and eventually brought back to the US. A coffee table was about the largest thing I built out of it. Cheers, Ed from Mississippi, USA

4. 
   Alan | Jan 18, 2003 12:14am | #6

   Ron,

   You might want to check out Garrett Hack's The Handplane Book.  It contains lots of useful information about planes new and old, and what needs to be done to get them in working order.  It's also a great looking book and very readable.

   Alan

1. 
   lucaire2000 | Jan 21, 2003 11:19pm | #7

   The Stanley website has repair parts for the #78 and probably the others.

5. 
   TooManyTools | Jan 22, 2003 08:18am | #8

   I'm going to hijack the thread here.  Does anyone know where I can get the little star shaped dohickey on the #78, it is supposed to cut the wood fibers before the blade to prevent tearout. 

   edit: should have read all the posts :)

   
   

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   Edited 1/22/2003 12:22:03 AM ET by JANATION

1. 
   ron61 | Jan 24, 2003 02:12am | #9

   Might try this site

   http://www.antique-used-tools.com/comparts.htm

   Ron

1. 
   TooManyTools | Jan 28, 2003 11:13pm | #10

   Thanks but didn't find it there.

1. 
   dirtstirrer | Jan 29, 2003 06:32am | #11

      You might want to try this site for your cross grain knickers:

   http://www.antique-used-tools.com

      It is Bob Kaune's excellent site.   I'm sure he can help you out.  I also see them on Ebay periodically.  If you just need one or two,  I've got several used but in good shape.  If you would prefer someting of that sort let me know.  They are the same on a Stanley 78 as they are on the 45 and 55 combo planes.  Those are usually easier to find.  There is a gentelman who goes by the name Stanley45 on ebay who has a lot of this stuff listed.  Might want to try a search for him.  Good luck.

     Steve

   Proud to be an American and many thanks to our military for making this life possible.

6. 
   ScottInMadtown | Jan 29, 2003 09:59pm | #12

   Ron,

   If you're dad took care of these nice Stanley planes, they are probably already in working order.  The first thing I would do is blow off the dust.  Then advance the blade until it just sticks out a little, tiny bit.  Clamp a piece of wood in your vice.  Try taking your first shaving.  You may find that you have less work to do with these planes than you think.  I always say...If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

   Scott