I have a new-ish Stanley #5. Yep, plastic tote, plastic front knob, plastic depth adjuster. No adjuster on the frog, just loosen the screws and slide it around. The blade vibrates like a tuning fork, and it doesn’t even begin to hold an adjustment. But it looks like a plane.
So I decided to upgrade. Seriously. $14.50 on ebay. With shipping.
I don’t know the vintage on this plane, but it’s certainly not a “collectable” vintage. The knob and tote are painted black over wood, and I believe that is the original finish. I removed some of the finish from the knob, and it’s certainly not rosewood hiding under there. But it has a metal blade adjuster and a frog adjuster. I think it will make a fine upgrade, especially after some clean up, a fresh Ron Hock blade and perhaps a little hot rodding.
I pulled most of it apart, which took perhaps 45 seconds. The last thing I disassembled with an eye toward improving was an Ironhead Sportster. That took longer.
So, what do we have? A lot of dirt and rust. But at this point all the parts are accounted for and nothing seem broken. The lateral adjuster is tight. The wood is solid — if nothing else I can refinish that.
The blade might need to be resharpened…
But I have a replacement Hock iron already, so I’m good there.
I checked the sole with a straightedge and it needs a little flattening, but it’s straighter then the new #5 was out of the box. If anyone is just starting out and wants the late model #5 I’ll make you a, uhm, a Sweethart deal.
Next steps are to clean up the parts, re-assemble it and lap in the sole and sides. Then I’ll pull it apart for detailing and try to avoid getting carried away.
Pingback: Stanley #5 Restore – It’s a Wrap « McGlynn on Making
Restoring planes is a lot like eating Lay’s potato chips. You can’t eat just one and you can’t just restore one plane.
ralph
Oh man, you’re telling me! They should come with warning labels 🙂
I did a #7 first. Not like yours because I don’t a sandblaster toy. I have since that first plane done a #3, two #4’s, and another #7. The last one I did was a #5. I’m looking around for a #8 to do or really anything from #3 to #8.
ralph
I really enjoyed doing this one because it was so crusty to begin with – almost anything would be an improvement. I have a #3 that I picked up on the cheap that I want to re-do, but I’m on the fence as to whether I should do the rest of mine. They aren’t pristine, but they work well and have an honest, original finish.
I may look for a bargin 4 1/2 to make a nice smoother out of, but I’d better stay focused on my workbench until I get it done 🙂