Show us your handplanes

[bonneyman]

I pulled my hand planes out of the toolbox for something else and grabbed a family pic.

 

[MattGarage]

Here are my planes. The 220 and the jack plane are absolute gems. I could plane down a sequoia in a couple days with the big 'un. The 220 is insanely sharp and just does what it's supposed to every time. I bought that other box plane originally but it takes more finesse. The number 4 probably gets equal use to the 220. All Stanleys of various vintage. The bunny rabbet gets no love as I use the table saw for rabbets now.

 

[esben57]

Memsahibs uncle passed away last year, helped clear the undercroft of his house. Found this amongst other items.
His father in law was a carpenter so this must be of some age.

 

[RTM]

Yup, a Stanley Bedrock 604. Great user. Flat tops on the cheeks means it's a little later.

The Superior Works - Stanley Blood & Gore: Planes #602 - #608

Account Suspended

 

[esben57]

My mother worked at Stanley tools in Sheffield. She bought this as a souvenir because she liked it, not sure if it wasn't a special edition run.
Sat in my toolbox unused for decades, just sold it to someone who will appreciate it.

 

[CRSINMICH]

esben: It would be a sad thing to sell your mother's tools. I hope whoever bought it will make use of it.

 

[Old tool guy]

Memsahibs uncle passed away last year, helped clear the undercroft of his house. Found this amongst other items.

I recognize memsahib, but not undercroft …

 

[CRSINMICH]

esben: The plane that you posted appears to be a Stanley Bed Rock (Type 5). It probably was made around 1911. Stanley only introduced Bed Rocks in 1898 so yours is an early model. Here is a section of a Bed Rock type study from Virginia Tool Works that shows what to look for. Your plane is very old and it looks like it's in very good condition under the rust and dust. Congratulations.

RTM: I didn't see your post until later or I wouldn't have bothered. I've BOLOed a 604 in the wild for a long time but haven't found one yet.

 

[esben57]

esben: The plane that you posted appears to be a Stanley Bed Rock (Type 5). It probably was made around 1911. Stanley only introduced Bed Rocks in 1898 so yours is an early model. Here is a section of a Bed Rock type study from Virginia Tool Works that shows what to look for. Your plane is very old and it looks like it's in very good condition under the rust and dust. Congratulations.

RTM: I didn't see your post until later or I wouldn't have bothered. I've BOLOed a 604 in the wild for a long time but haven't found one yet.

Uncle G's offspring were throwing everything in the skip (think they are dumpsters across the pond) until I asked to look first.
Seen lots of Stanley's from the Sheffield factory, not one of those though. Had a trawl and read articles similar. £127 GBP bought it.
Ex steelworks mate (buddy?) of mine had his Father die last year and he was a joiner/carpenter.
His collection of planes is vast, from spokeshaves box planes to large jack planes. Some are boxed and well looked after, mostly British makes.
They have sentimental value though, where as I am more mercenary.

 

[LWB]

I cleaned these up last year. I have an old scrub plane to look after soon. I'm very pleased with all of them. They're a joy to use.

 

[CRSINMICH]

LWB: That's a nice looking set. Is there a name stamped into the wooden jointer or on it's cutting iron?

 

[LWB]

LWB: That's a nice looking set. Is there a name stamped into the wooden jointer or on it's cutting iron?

Thank you. James Howarth

 

[CRSINMICH]

LWB: You are lucky. James Howarth (& Son) of Sheffield made fine edge tools for a long time - as far back as 1835.

 

[LWB]

LWB: You are lucky. James Howarth (& Son) of Sheffield made fine edge tools for a long time - as far back as 1835.

I am. IIRC my research lead me to believe it was from the early 1900's. The previous owner bought it in PA, brought it back to Canada and had it on display for over 20 years. I love it and it works perfectly.

 

[RTM]

I am. IIRC my research lead me to believe it was from the early 1900's. The previous owner bought it in PA, brought it back to Canada and had it on display for over 20 years. I love it and it works perfectly.

And the mass makes it unstoppable, right? I have a few really dense 15"-22" woodies that are just beasts on tough grain.

 

[LWB]

And the mass makes it unstoppable, right? I have a few really dense 15"-22" woodies that are just beasts on tough grain.

Yep. I’m amazed at how it works effortlessly.

 

[Farmer J.]

Found an interesting article about an early smoothing plane dug up in London:

An early Cabinet Maker's smoothing plane from the City of London

Although eighteenth century woodworking tools survive in surprising numbers, they are mainly found to be specialised types whose slumber in their owners' tool chests was rarely disturbed, like panel-fielding planes, moulders, or gouges. Everyday tools such as hand saws, hones and mallets are...

taths.org.uk

 

[WisJim]

As I mentioned in the garage sale thread, I got a bunch of tools at a local online auction this week. One lot had a few planes, including this Stanley 45 with 14 blades and a Stanley 140 block plane missing the side plate and in generally rough shape. Not sure what I will do with them as they are both duplicates in my shop collection of planes.
There were a couple of wooden planes and a large 7 or 8 size jointer plane that I need to take pics of after I do some cleaning up.

 

[WisJim]

I took a picture of my plane shelves above my bench when I was in the garage this morning. These are the ones that I use (or might use) and keep out where I can find them. I decided that I'm not a plane collector and have sold a lot of the rare or valuable ones so I can buy drilling tools, which is what I do collect.

 

[Old Radar]

I decided that I'm not a plane collector

Despite all evidence to the contrary...

 

[RTM]

.

That could be a fun jigsaw puzzle.

Looking at the picture on my phone blown up as big as possible and saying okay 48, 49 couple 78 style, a woodie dado plane, couple of big bedrocks can't remember the numbering on my circular planes. A different type of puzzle, deciphering them by what you can see, without checking blood & gore.

 

[CRSINMICH]

WisJim: It looks exactly like a collection to me too. I call the planes I have an accumulection. Like yours they are also the planes I use and the ones I think I might use sometime, or I intend to use them someday.

 

[CRSINMICH]

VAUGHAN & BUSHNELL Drop Forged planes
​

I hadn't heard about this plane maker before today. They made the beds of their planes by drop forging steel instead of casting iron. The frog and receiver is similar to Stanley Bedrock.

If you look at the bottom of the catalog page you'll see Lincoln Cast Planes. Vaughan only made drop forged planes for a short time so be careful which one you may buy.

FYI: Vaughan is still in business. They sell quality Made in USA hammers.

 

[RTM]

VAUGHAN & BUSHNELL Drop Forged planes
​

I hadn't heard about this plane maker before today. They made the beds of their planes by drop forging steel instead of casting iron. The frog and receiver is similar to Stanley Bedrock.

they are supposedly great planes. Tried to pick up one at an auction a few years back, and it went way above my comfort level.

 

[CRSINMICH]

RTM: I read that the V&B drop forged planes sold for a lot of money but not their cast iron models. That's why I cautioned people to be careful.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this at a sale on Friday. Looks like it needs some restoration to me. I didn’t see any markings.
-Don

 

[crguy]

I found this at a sale on Friday. Looks like it needs some restoration to me. I didn’t see any markings.
-Don

The base is either modified or replaced. Not much value there.

 

[Modern Garage]

That's pretty well worn judging by how big the mouth has become. I have one very similar and just as worn that came from a garage sale. The women there said it had belonged to their father, a carpenter who had built most of the houses in the small town where they lived. I refinished the wood and sharpened and tuned it as well as I could. I have no intention of using it but if the story was true it deserved a little care in its retirement. Worth? That can be a variable concept...
Joe

 

[RTM]

Yup, it is well worn, and unevenly at the toe. With more pix we might be able to tell who made it.

I’ve repaired one by resoling the existing wood, but it’s a labor of love, it will never be sold. And I still have two more queued up.

 

[d42jeep]

I didn’t pick it up because I thought that it might be valuable. I hoped that it might be of interest to a collector. I would be happy to send it along to anyone that would like to own it, maybe someone right across the bay. It could be added to the two currently in line.
-Don

 

[CRSINMICH]

Three planes and a plane iron​

I've just returned from a vacation (holiday) in Northern Ontario. I was pleasantly surprised to find several good wooden planes at prices that were bargains even without the favorable (favourable) exchange rate.

The first is a J Kellogg dado plane complete with nickers and depth stop.

The next one is a JP Milliner & Co beading plane with some boxing. Milliner & Co. was located in Kingston, Ontario.

The last plane is a Greenfield Tool molding plane. The photo is a close-up of the spring lines on the toe.

The plane iron was made by I&H Sorby. Information about early Sorby tools is screwy and contradictory so at best guess this iron is perhaps nearly close to being circa 200 years old - maybe. It's fairly certain that Sorby didn't make planes and that their irons were meant for infill planes. The weird blob above the writing is supposed to be a sheep being carried. Don't ask why.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I have zero interest in anything hand planes or woodworking, however, I constantly see hand planes at yard sales and I always leave them behind. Are there any particular brands or models that are actually worth picking up?

 

[RTM]

If it says Marples, Speier, Ayrs, looks anything like this, grab them







If it says Corsair, PEXTO, Shelton, Great Neck, Stanley in a shade of blue, Buck Bros in metal, run run run run away. Plus others, if they feel cheap.

Many others in between those extremes that are a case by case basis.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

If it says Marples, Speier, Ayrs, looks anything like this, grab them







If it says Corsair, PEXTO, Shelton, Great Neck, Stanley in a shade of blue, Buck Bros in metal, run run run run away. Plus others, if they feel cheap.

Many others in between those extremes that are a case by case basis.

Thank you for the info. How about the old large wooden block ones (not sure how else to describe them or exactly what they are referred as).

 

[RTM]

Thank you for the info. How about the old large wooden block ones (not sure how else to describe them or exactly what they are referred as).

Wooden bench planes or moulding planes

(Block planes are generally 6-8” metal planes, made to use with one hand. Lots of discussion on where the name comes from.)

Again, generally a **** shoot. Most you will find are well worn, the mouth is often gaping wide. Bodies often cracked, wedges and irons mismatched or missing, handles busted.

I have found a few nice ones over the years, I have at least 2 dozen bench, and 100 moulding planes. And handled 3-4x that many, and put them back down.

Unless you find a beauty cheap, you won’t make much flipping them. Most moulding go for $15 or so, unless unique or pristine, or both. Rare ones can go for crazy $$, but without a scorecard I could not tell you. I often see lots, with lots of mismatched pieces, and have bought a few, cuz of one good one.

Bench planes, in good shape, can go $15-75, depending on usability. They are harder to learn to use than their metal bodied peers, and wear out much faster. There are some boutique makers selling new ones that easily hit $300, and most are works of art.

Unless you plan on using them, buying to flip can be a challenge. I have trouble giving away my extras.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

All good info, thank you. I just see so many of them all the time it's nice to know which ones to at least keep an eye out for.

 

[Old Radar]

Picked up this 18" Tower and Lyon corrugated sole plane at an estate sale this week. Spent a few hours cleaning it up. Most of the chrome is gone but most of the japanning is still there.


O.R. Chaplin's patent date on the iron is May 7, 1872 with a couple of improvements from John J. Tower on July 4, 1876.


Normally the tote was Vulcanized (Goodyear!) India rubber but the plane was also available with wood or metal totes. I can't swear this is an original wood tote option--it may be, but there's a hole too close to the edge that someone drilled. Can't imagine that was any manufacturer's work and it is extraneous for this plane.


This is a Type 3 from between 1887 and 1899. The "PAT. APLD. FOR" stamped on the dovetail tote collar places this example close to the date the patent was granted--March 13, 1888. See 2nd photo above.
Australian jeweler, Peter McBride did a type study 17 years ago that helped me type this example, but also has left me a little confused about the model number. His narrative and the table entitled Original Patent Chaplin’s Iron Plane Sizes indicate the 18" corrugated plane should be #1208. On this corrugated, 18" plane, under the tote and a thick layer of japanning is what appears to me to be the number 208 with no "1" preceding it. According to McBride, this number is indicative of a smooth bottom. Above the number is an unreadable series of characters that I can will myself to see as "x & x CO. But no matter how hard I squint, I cannot see T & L CO.
If anyone has any familiarity with this type of plane, I'd love to hear it.

 

[crguy]

Picked up this 18" Tower and Lyon corrugated sole plane at an estate sale this week. Spent a few hours cleaning it up. Most of the chrome is gone but most of the japanning is still there.


O.R. Chaplin's patent date on the iron is May 7, 1872 with a couple of improvements from John J. Tower on July 4, 1876.


Normally the tote was Vulcanized (Goodyear!) India rubber but the plane was also available with wood or metal totes. I can't swear this is an original wood tote option--it may be, but there's a hole too close to the edge that someone drilled. Can't imagine that was any manufacturer's work and it is extraneous for this plane.


This is a Type 3 from between 1887 and 1899. The "PAT. APLD. FOR" stamped on the dovetail tote collar places this example close to the date the patent was granted--March 13, 1888. See 2nd photo above.
Australian jeweler, Peter McBride did a type study 17 years ago that helped me type this example, but also has left me a little confused about the model number. His narrative and the table entitled Original Patent Chaplin’s Iron Plane Sizes indicate the 18" corrugated plane should be #1208. On this corrugated, 18" plane, under the tote and a thick layer of japanning is what appears to me to be the number 208 with no "1" preceding it. According to McBride, this number is indicative of a smooth bottom. Above the number is an unreadable series of characters that I can will myself to see as "x & x CO. But no matter how hard I squint, I cannot see T & L CO.
If anyone has any familiarity with this type of plane, I'd love to hear it.

I have owned several Chaplin planes. The optional wood handles were painted black like the wood front knob. Your handle isn't an original. The early Chaplin planes had nickel plated cast iron handles & knobs.

 

[Old Radar]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions about the tote. Are you able to comment on the model number or the stamp on the base plate?

 

[pfaustus]

I had one of those Stanley aluminum replacement totes. It was damn cold on a winter morning. I think you'd have to check those cast handles every time before picking it up to prevent freezing or burning fingers.