I just made a good buy on a Stanley 55, and I bought it with the intent of using it. It came with 3 of the 4 boxes of cutters, and few other parts which I have no idea about. I know these are collectors items; I see them on ebay. I have ordered a book on its use, which is said to include a copy of the original paperwork.
My question is: Does anyone still use these tools, or are they just for the mantle. So far, I have never put a tool in the living room if I wasn’t using it for some purpose. I anxious to give it a try, but wondered if they are in use.
Replies
I bought a complete one years ago in a junk shop -- $25!!
I used it a lot for replicating missing mouldings on antique furniture.
IanDG
Edited 3/28/2003 10:26:50 AM ET by IanDG
Ian,
25 bucks, complete!!! Some people have all the luck. Box and everything? I finally found the right factory screwdriver for one of my 45's, paid 25 bucks for it. Shish.
Steve
Edited 3/28/2003 5:30:50 PM ET by Steve
I have the 405 (an English version of the 45/55) and use it a lot. I make my furniture using only hand tools so I find a multi-function tool like the 405 quite useful. As with any cutting tool, the key to successful use is propering tuning and practice. If you are interested in the proper use/knowledge of hand planes (including the 55), Woodcraft publishes and excellent booklet on the history/usage of them.
Harold Blair
http://www.traditionalcraftsman.org
s4s,
Welcome to the combo molding plane crowd! Er, small group anyhow. I use a 45 as often as possible, and have been trying to talk a cousin out of his mint 55 for several years now. Sure is fun to make profiles that the router guys would spend 10 hours building jigs for, in several minutes. Watch the grain direction closely and take off the slitter if your not using it. It will either cut your little finger, or your work, neither being good. Setting these old beasts is a blast, and I hear the 55 is particularly cantankerous. Enjoy!
Oh, if you want to get a new respect for your new toy, check out the prices on a full set of special cutters for it. If you want just the standard cutters you are missing, you can find them on ebay.
Steve
I got an old Stanley #46 and I was totally blown away by the fantastic quality of the dado's it cut. If I were to become proficient in it's use it probably could keep pace with an electric router considering an entire job.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled