Replies

1. 
   polarsea1 | Nov 19, 2005 12:16pm | #1

   Here's some information from a non expert. The Stanley No 50 is a very common plough plane, smaller than a 45. You should be able to find a complete plane with all cutters, in excellent condition, on ebay for ~75-100. (most of the nicer ones are English versions shipping from the UK) If you are just cutting small grooves I would recommend the little Record #43 which comes with 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 inch straight cutters. 

2. 
   WillGraham | Nov 19, 2005 04:17pm | #2

   I was looking for a plow plane a month ago.  Steve Knight and Clark and Williams are both makeing new ones.  e-bay seems risky to me for buying something you have to "feel in your hands" to know if it is right for me.

   I found through the November - December FWW artical a list of old tool collectors clubs http://www.oldtools.comclubs and found a local club. Last weekend I went to their quarterly meeting and I found a good Stanley #45.  I may hav paid too much $110U but I knew what I was getting.  I also researched what a complete Stanley #455 should  look like. what cutters I need. I have no idea how old this tool is and don't realy care (it came in its origional wooden box). After cleaning up some gunk and rust, sharping some blades, I now have a very nice tool.

    

    

3. 
   EdHarrison | Nov 19, 2005 04:31pm | #3

   I really like the no. 50.  I also have the Record 043 and Record 044, by the way.  All good.

   A really good way to get a plow plane for a bargain is to buy a No. 50 without all the cutters and make the cutters you need by cutting them out of an old plane blade with a dremel tool and cutoff wheel.  You then grind them to smoothness and exact width with a grinder or belt sander.  You can, for instance, make one the exact width of the type of plywood you are using (though individual sheets of plywood will vary in width, sometimes),  You can even make the beaded cutters in the same fashion with the addition of mounted stones of the proper diameters used on a drill press.

   Expect to pay $25 to $35 dollars for a No. 50 on ebay without the cutters.  Study it to make sure it has all the rest of the necessary parts.  I have three No. 50s I've bought and made cutters for, like this.  None of them more than $35.  They peel wood like nobody's business.  I also make a front knob for my No. 50s and epoxy it to an old drill bit shank and mount it where the long depth stop, or beading stop, goes,but vertically upward, of course - you'd have to look at the tool to see what I mean, but just file away the fact that the tool is easier to use for long periods with a front knob.  Good luck.  Ed

    

4. 
   DBCOHEN | Nov 20, 2005 06:14pm | #4

   I had a need for such a plane recently too. As the new ones are too expensive for me right now, I decided to take a stab at making one.  My specific need was for making grooves to accomodate drawer bottoms for a tool cabinet I'm working on. This plane does one thing only, plow a quarter inch groove one quarter inch deep. The attached photos show the plane and an example of a groove cut with it.

   I fashioned the plane out of a piece of red oak that I had in the scrap pile. It was made entirely with hand tools, and took about three hours to make.  The cost was virtually nothing since I have everything on hand except a one inch auger bit which I had to buy. Since I am no metal worker, I simply used a quarter inch chisel for the iron. It works fine as you can see from the example in the picture.  You need a fence to get started, but once the groove is established you can remove the fence.

   I really enjoyed making this plane and I will certainly try to improve upon it. Lessons I learned from the project are: 

     Make it an inch or so longer, for comforts sake. It's a littly awkward to hold because of the chisel handle.

   Next time I'll fit it for a cheap-o Buck Bros chisel that I have on hand. The Buck Bros chisel has less bevel on the sides, and the blade is thicker.

   It needs nickers to work cross grain. I have not figured out how to do this yet, but I'm thinking about screwing x-acto knife blades on either side. seems overly complicated though. Any suggestions will be most welcome.

   
1. 
   Patto | Nov 22, 2005 08:48am | #5

   I have only a Stanley 78 for this type of stuff and have never found the nickers to be particularly satisfacory. All I do is cut a firm score with a stanley knife and go for it with the plane. Biggest problem is creep away from the line, which seems correctible by setting the plane iron a whisker proud of the side.

   Dave

5. 
   pzgren | Nov 29, 2005 09:36pm | #6

   Japan Woodworker has a nice Chinese style plow plane, made from Rosewood, with about a half dozen irons (about 3/16ths out to about 1/2 inch wide), for around $50 + S&H. The irons need some serious honing before you use them for the first time, but I found it entirely adequate for most of the stuff I've needed a plow plane for. You might take a look at this.

   James

6. 
   sully | Mar 14, 2006 05:55am | #7

   I too am a neophyte with a similar problem. I need to cut a groove to accept a panel for a clock door. I do not own a plough plane, but I do own a Stanley #78.  I am wondering if I might be able to replace the stock blade in the #78 with a narrower one,  as opposed to buying a Record 44, which looks pretty similar. Any thoughts?