You did a great job getting that old plane back to work. That's a little newer than a type 15 though. The frog started with the type 16. The type study was done using the no 4 exclusively and some of the features didn't show up on the bigger plane.
I did the same to a 51/2 about 2 months ago and it is my go to tool at the moment. just bought a 41/2 to do the same thing to for lighter work. Such enjoyment when you take good shavings from a tool you have sorted. great content as usual Peter and not going too deeply into the R words area.
Hi Peter, Dont know if anyone else mentioned this but your chip breaker is a Record item, not Stanley. May or may not make any difference, but just aesthetics..I personally like restoring old tools to a workable condition, and am glad to see another plane not destined for the rust pile.
Thank you for all the great info and education. My Grandfather would call what you had that jack plane was just some well needed maintenance. As tp to how you may have ended up with a plane made in 31 or 32 it could have been brought over during WWII and left by the US when they returned. Have a great day.
Just spent couple hours researching bench dogs and ozznest and related vids. I’m not even exaggerating when I say you’re videos about that subject have just improved my work life massively! And I’m already a seasoned uk carpenter! Thanks for all your hard work Pete 👍👍
Interesting to see you get into this. I went plane crazy in the 90s, finding at least 5 Stanley planes, 3 of them Bedrocks. A 4, 5, 6, 7, and an 8! I sold the 8, it was a beast. I was convinced I needed a good set of planes to be a wood worker! Too many Fine Woodworking articles I think. I did build dovetailed pine shelves with them, starting with rough cut pine boards hand planed level and square. It took a week to build those shelves in what would take 2 hours with power tools. I then boxed them up, bought a jigsaw, skillsaw and a drill and didn’t build anything else by hand!
I never really ‘got into’ the hand plane thing, but I did enjoy playing with this one and getting it working tolerably well. And I totally agree with you re power tools! 👍👍
Thanks for this, Peter. Couldn't resist looking on ebay and found an identical one for £39.99 plus £12 postage. I shall use your video to help me sort it out when it arrives. Thanks again.
The first tool i used on first day as apprentice .The old timers just used double sided oil stones & stropped with hand chisels as well .I always carry 3 blades for each plane customer pay for my time not sharpening tools
Hi I’ve recently retired and plan on doing some hobby- woodworking, but find screaming power tools less than therapeutic!, consequently having began trawling eBay for old hand tools I keep finding the most innovative job- specific tools imaginable and am really enjoying re-commissioning them- whether you have use for them or not there is a lot of satisfaction in saving a well use tool from the scrap bin.. or as is more recently the case “ being used as an ornament!! However a word of warning, collecting and restoring old hand tools can become seriously addictive!!!!
Loved this. Even with all your experience as a pro cabinet maker with the power tools, I finally feel as if you are on the same plane as me with cleaning up hand tools. (Sorry, couldn’t resist that one.) Best line? “I’ve finally found a use for a Dremel brush I’ve had for a decade.” I suspect we all know that feeling! Best tip for me? Clamping the board plus abrasive paper to the bench top. Saves messing around with the vice and other specialist “sharpening stations.” As ever, thanks for a great share.
Good video. I have a bit of a thing about bringing old stuff back to life. I heard on Radio 4 the other day, of a group of local repairers that have a 'Repair Cafe' where people can take things that have stopped working and the 'experts' fix them. This throw away and buy new attitude boils my waterworks!
Just goes to show what you can do with a seemingly worn out plane. Must pop into my workshop and give my 5 1/2 a clean up. Bought mine new in the 70's still a great plane.
Basically they don’t wear out although they do crack and break. The often have cracks around the mouth which become apparent when cleaning the rust off. And then are those which have been welded.
Funny enough, just finished my last shots last night for a vid on giving some old planes a new lease of life. Always a worthwhile endeavour. Before they arrive Peter - and they will - I'll just say that yes, there's ways, other ways and yet more ways to go about this, including sharpening. If your way get's you a working plane with a keen edge suitable for your work, jobs a good'n. Good to see someone else who hand-strops too lol.
I love these old planes. I fettled my father's a couple of years ago. I guess it was from the 1950's around the time my parents married and money was very tight for bought furniture. All the best, Rob in Switzerland.
I just bought one of them this afternoon and it is in about the same shape. I have a workbench top to smooth. This is more of a jointing plane for flattening large laminations than smoothing. Looking forward to using it.
I most definitely will Peter. Turns out mine is about the same age as yours and is a 5-1/2c which means its a corrugated sole. Its old enough to not have a frog adjusting screw so likely around the early 20s. Threads and hardware is all in great shape. No cracks or chips. Also regardless of what the sharpening geeks have to say all that matters is the blade is sharp regardless of how you get to it. I do not plan to spend a whole day setting up a precise bevel and all or spending $700 on a machine to do it. Close to 25 degrees is good.
Peter as you know I’m newish to this RU-vid malarky, but since I’ve been watching your videos I get a real sense that you are hiding your real light under a bushel. Why do I say that, well this was from over a year ago and your absolute adherence to power tools in disputable and here you are putting a Classic Stanley plane back in to commission, successfully. It just convinces me again, that you are a really old soul and that your hankering for the use of hand tools is seriously ingrained. This is a bare minimum of effort to get this old beauty back in service but you did it and the the absolute puritans will be livid and I LOVE IT. Why waste time and effort on the absolute perfection when as I my old Superintendent in my engineering apprenticeship in a world class Earth Moving Equipment Manufacturing Engineering Company known for it’s CAT Power, used to say “We’re NOT making Swiss Watches, get on with it.” Well done again young man, brilliant work.
Thanks David! Ha! I was using that plane just this week actually - admittedly for the first time in a while - and reflecting on the state it was in when it arrived! 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop I think you have just proved me right Peter :) I knew it, jobbing furniture maker to cabinet maker in one step. I am being complimentary here Peter but I think you know this. :)
Cracking timing on this one, Peter. I’ve just inherited, amongst other things, my dad’s plane - a type 15 no. 4 1/2. It needs a bit of a spruce up as well, and I’d like to do that sooner rather than later (for later read never - procrastinators of the world unite tomorrow, and all that).
Oh my goodness Peter you have wandered into a RU-vid minefield here. Wait till all the multitude of sharpening geeks find this.They have invested £100s in the gear, so they will have their tuppence worth!
I went through almost exactly the same experience in rejuvenating a Stanley No 4 plane that had been donated to our woodwork club. However, I soaked some of the metal parts in a citric acid bath to remove some of the rust. The results however, were almost a clone of yours and it is great to use. Perhaps flattening the back of the plane will be what others will say you should also do. Anyway, thanks again for your experience. I have two Stanley Bailey No 5's waiting for my future attention in the workshop. I am looking forward to the therapy again of seeing them take thin shavings off wood again.
I've got upgraded irons on all my Stanleys. It just takes that extra variable out of tuning up an old plane. I've got a Clifton 5 1/2, and I much prefer my Stanleys.
Nice work Peter, always good to have hand tools. They have a certain soul and bonding with the wood you don't get from hand tools. I have a Marples bladed wooden jack plane and it's a joy to hold.
Oh no, forgot the gloves. 😂 I did that a few months back with my old plane that had gotten damp and I’d forgotten about it. It’s a fun project to refurb an old plane. Every carpenter should do it once. Nice Video.👍🏻😊
I did a similar number on my Stanley #5 - 1/2 eBay purchase a few years ago. My plane is of similar vintage although as I found out, my particular model has a 2 1/8" width iron. I believe after 1958 Stanley increased to 2. - 1/4"? I paid the princely sum of £8 for mine. It was advertised without a rear handle, however the vendor included the body and handles of another plane in the parcel, which was nice. The plane had been well used but in good overall condition. I wanted a new blade for it, one for General work and one for smoothing. I found it difficult to source a second hand iron of that size although I eventually bought a new one from Workshop Heaven, I am pleased I did, I keep this one for finer work. I use this plane all the time now, it suits my hand very well, with the slightly narrower body it's a good compromise between the #5 and it's heavier Brother (2-1/4" blade version). In your opening gambit you stated you would not polish it like Paul Sellers!! I don't recall the aforementioned polishing the frog screws and adjustment wheel lol. I enjoyed watching and reminiscing on you labours, who needs a gym membership when you have hand planing to undertake. I am no expert either, although for general planing you might wish to ease the corners of that newly honed iron. Good luck and thanks for posting.
Talk about feeling guilty. I have just had to go straight out and give my, Made in England Stanley No 4 form the early 50's, some long overdue attention. It came apart quite easily even the handle. Thanks Peter for the nudge.
Makes me want to hit a few yard sales this weekend. I only have a block plane and a 16 inch leveling plane. Don't want to spend my retirement money on any more new ones. If I could find some used ones of different sizes at deep discounts, that would be great! Thanks Peter!
Mark Bryan honestly, don't bother buying lots of planes. Get a no:5 1/2 and refurbish it ( oops used the R word) fettle it to take fine shavings Learn to use it and fall in love with it.
Great video Peter, I see you’ve painted your mft table top! Amazing how well that actually came up going to have to do mine now. Brilliant videos btw keep them up I’ve learned so much thank you 👍🏼
Like you I very seldom use one, I have on in my second shed and you have given me food for thought Ill clean it up and sharpen it as its a good old tool ,thank you for the inspiration, BTW I had never put a value on such a tool now I have more respect for it.
Hello and a good New Year first. Working with electrical tools is cool, but woodworking with handtools is a fun and satisfaction... Understanding and setting up a planer is hard for absolut beginners - the first succes is graet and makes "appetite for more". Thank you for sharing this!
Yes, very interesting. The only point I would make is that flattening the sole should be done with the lever cap on and closed. That said - your priority was cleaning off rust and patina from sole so I don't think that makes much difference. As far as sharpening is concerned I was taught by my dad, a master carpenter, and still only use 240 and 400 grit sandpaper and a strop to get a fast and sharp enough edge in moments - no guide!
Cheers Karl! I know where you’re coming from, but I n all honesty, I think any changes in the shape of the plane made by fitting the blade and lever cap to a frog *that is itself separate from the plane body* is likely to be negligible - certainly unnoticeable to me! But as I say, whatever works for you, works for you 👍👍
nice one peter, i've got two or 3 renovations of planes to do, (if I ever get round to them) you did a good job. i've been woodworking for about 10 years and don't use traditional tools often, things move on don't they?. nice to get them out every now and then to tell the next generation how we struggled!!
Nice one Peter, great to see you get your hands dirty (irony) Some interesting comments. Stropping chisels on hand no problems bin doing that for fifty plus years, although now 400/1000 grit diamond plate (inexpensive one) , white spirits of windscreen washer fluid (whichever to hand) ever so slight lift on back edge (like Rob Cosman) works for me onsite. Remember the five d's oh no that Dodge ball👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Fink 10 minute hand tool workshop😎😎😎😎😎
I enjoyed the video, Thanks. There is nothing wrong with the way you sharpen. You have made a good choice with and older 5 1/2 and if you find you like using this plane and want to lash out with the cash buy an after market blade and cap iron set. That will raise the performance of your plane to almost as good as a premium Lie Nielsen or Veritas hand plane . If you do decide to buy a blade set, check the width of your blade as some USA made 5 1/2 planes made before 1939 had a 2 1/4 wide blade and not the usual 2 3/8 wide blade. All the best
Yeap with you all the way about the Paul Sellers' plane's I just want to shave wood .I have a good few record and Stanley all blue as I bought a tin off hammerite a few years ago . I build sheds not airplanes
Hi Peter, thanks for sharing, Watch out!!, buying old tools and cleaning them up (let’s leave the r r r words to later, stage 3 of the affliction that is...), gets under your skin, like the grime from that first dismantle. Oh and storage, you can always squeeze another one in somewhere, that you’re going to get round too, 😄 right?
@@glennpreston3418 yes it does, although I don't like the fact that it isn't designed with a square edge on it at least on one side. I always imagine that I've knocked mine out of square whilst sharpening and am constantly checking for square as I go. To the extent that I have as much confidence in my freehand sharpening squareness. In hindsight I'd have bought a cheaper guide that clamps the blade square and an offcut blade angle jig.
Ah, that's probably because you're missing the extra device that clamps the blades from the side instead of the and bottom. That was a design flaw and the released the extra device to correct the issue. This keeps the blade of chisel true for honing.
Haven't been over to your channel for a while. I watched Paul Sellers videos on this. Not sure I'd characterise his as full restoration. More like what you were doing, i.e. getting the tool functional. Loved his quick process for taking the old finish off the handles though, and applying a new finish for a 'quick win' in terms of making it better to handle in use. He also did some further videos on making new handles for anyone that's interested in going the whole hog. I really like the fact that he showed how you don't need a lathe to to do it. If I remember correctly you can fix the loose handle by simply removing a little length from the threaded end of the rod that holds it down. I'm guessing you already did this but didn't put it in the vid. Cheers Peter. Been missing your channel! :-)
Happy New Year Peter...Something about handtools, I have at least 10 hand planes but always(almost) use my planer and thicknesser(as Americans call it.) Roboteuse-degauchiceuse(in French,) but just love to see them on my wall...crazy. i have a Stanley No.5 but not the 5.5...cheers...rr
The word I thought of was unfortunately another one beginning with R - I think you've just Refreshed it !! Lol. Thanks again for an interesting video. Regards Col.
I’ve always thought it would be fun for you and Andy to interview Richard McGuire, the English Woodworker. His premium videos are my hand tool favorites
Watching you strop that cutting iron on the heel of your hand reminds me of my dad stropping his razor blade in the same way when I was a young boy in the late 40s, early 50s. Good work putting that plane back into use btw. I won't use the "r" words either.
The kidney shaped hole in the cap iron was introduced in 1933 with the type 16. I love my No 5 1/2, plenty of heft to it, once you get it moving, mine has a newer and better iron than the original. Here one can identify the ages of Stanley planes www.timetestedtools.net/2016/01/27/stanley-type-16/
Might this be a Type 16? Judging from the kidney-shaped hole in the lever cap (although not definitive if the cap has been replaced). But the frog has the outline machined surface instead of a full-face ground front.
Possibly, though I don’t know enough to be able to tell the difference, I’m sorry; I went by the guide I found online - link in the video description - which was focussed on identifiers found on the plane body. As I say, it feels like the lever cap isn’t original as it isn’t centred when fitted, and the cap iron has ‘Record’ stamped on it, so most likely a mongrel. 🤷♂️👍
Peter Millard “Record,” eh? Looks like this baby has had some organ transplants in the UK. Is the iron 2-3/8” or 2-1/2” wide? That should also distinguish a 15 from a 16. I’m splitting hairs here: your restoration is brilliant and that plane is a keeper!
@@b1j Thanks! Har-splitting is the sign of a curious mind, I think! 😂Someone else further down the thread commented on the lever cap, and the shape of the hole, though as I say, I'm pretty sure that isn't original; I'll have a look at the blade when I'm back in the workshop; out of interest, is it the 15 that should have a 2-3/8" blade? Really appreciate the info, thanks! 👍
Whoah, Peter!!!!! Join the hand-tool club....... And there was even a piece of solid oak in there too. Bespoke one-off free standing hardwood furniture with draw-bored M&Ts next. :)
@@garyblake3130 There's a bit more to it than that, unfortunately - the screw is stuck in, and a previous owner has put a washer in there to try and help... which is not stuck against the bolt, so the screw won't turn, and the handle won't come off the bolt. As I say, a job for another day. 👍
Hi peter Enjoyed this alot, In reference to the shakey handle, clean the slot out and on some brass nuts the slot has the threaded part coming through, use a needle to poke the muck out and you can pop a few drops of oil/WD40 through the hole and it will run down the rod and reach the parts that have siezed.
Great video Peter, nothing like another new toy! You got a great bargin in the end (even if my old woodwork teacher would be spining in his grave at the method of refurbishment) It works Hours of fun with real wood for a change!
There's nothing to beat hand tools from between the wars... Was given a 'new' Jack Plane a couple of years ago; Sole not flat, taken hours of work flattening on Emery cloth on a large piece of kitchen worktop. Used a black marker pen to mark up the bottom first - when the ink had been worked off the sole was much flatter. The 'Thin' (barely 2mm) plane iron (blade) had a hollow back, that is now better, again after much work on the emery cloth board. Chip breaker again another bad piece of finishing, not helped with it being as flexible as ****. I've as much time getting that sorted as well. It still jambs up with some of the shavings. Had I bought it I'd have taken it back it was so bad, even now only really good enough for very rough work.
Really enjoyed this one, especially without the usual religious piety related to plane restoration 😁. I haven't ever seen a 5 1/2 , (maybe rarer here in Australia?) But I have a couple of 4 1/2 I need to tidy up get working again.
Thanks! Haha, yes - it’s a nice old thing, but I just wanted a working tool, rather than making it a ‘vintage collectible’. 5½s are fairly common here, though nothing like as common as the usual 4s. Nice little project though - I enjoyed it! 👍👍
Smiling here - been sat on a stanley no4 and an unknown (anant) blockplane for about 18 mths. Wanted to do something with them but they got resigned to the shed. They are now on the dining room table. Interesting you sand dry?
Shows how fit the old guys were who use hand tools for all aspects of woodworking. I really don’t think we have the people around now to be able to use hand tooling to there skill levels
@@10MinuteWorkshop Glad you got the correct reason why its called a frog, I have been teaching the frog in the throat at my college for some time now. Glad you're getting into hand tools, I have been down the road and got all the fancy power tools, but you can't beat the use of good quality hand tools, of which an old Stanley or Record plane is one. We'll have you cutting mortice and tenon joints soon, even the youngsters at my college seem to enjoy chopping a mortice by hand.
Hiya. I don't I'm sorry, no. I know the newer model MFT/3 changed to the v-slot type of extrusion, but I have the older model MFT with T-slot) extrusion, so I haven't anything to compare them to. 🤷♂️
Whey hey Peter. Nice video. But at the risk of "putting my head above the parapet " I'd like to make a couple of points:- Judging by the look of the Frog, and the height of the front knob it is a much earlier model, possibly 1960's. I'm not saying the rest of it isn't 1930's but I doubt that. Also you really should have taken the time to 'flatten' the back of the iron/ blade. It will make all the difference. As you mentioned, wars have been started for less....... Apart from the above I'm sure you have a very nice no,5 1/2. Which is my favourite plane. Once you have restored one and fettled it and learned how to use one they are fantastic planes. In my opinion they can be used for all purposes, from surfacing stock like the bigger no;7's to smoothing like a no;4. I've refurbished many no:5 1/2's over the years after attending a Tool Tuning course with David Charlesworth.
Thanks John. I think I said that some parts - certainly the lever cap - look like they’re not original. And I’m just going by what I found online wrt the age - if the parts are interchangeable then then it could well be a Franken-plane - but it’s my Frankenstein-plane 😂 There’s a link in the video description to what I used for dating. And thanks, I did flatten the back of the blade - you just didn’t see it on camera, because honestly, the vid was getting long enough, and there are a million sharpening videos on RU-vid already. 👍👍
Hi Peter, well done, and welcome to the dark side. Absolutely nothing wrong with what you did, but didn't your Veritas honing guide come with a blade registration jig. It sets both the angle and squareness.
Pete just went back in time to your bench dogs video. You mentioned your mft table had 18 mm holes which fitted the dogs from benchdogs uk. Was that a slip of the tongue because most other mft style tops have a 20mm hole? Loving the podcast btw👍👍
There’s a box of my father’s and grandfather’s hand planes giving me accusing and increasingly rusty looks every time I open my workshop drawer of shame. Should probably do something about it before they get together with my chisels and do something horrible... like unionise!
Will someone please give Peter a piece of granite and some wet paper ,lol thats ok Peter ,the last blades i sharpen were for my jointer ,i use a block of wood and screwed it to the block used a stone wheel to take out the chunks then wet sanded it on the deck of my table saw up to 4000 ,cuts like butter ,see them table saws are good for something huh lol
Nice job though watching Paul Sellers can give pointers on setting up for different needs. Looks like it's a made up plane as tho body is stanley blade is from a record plane. Might be worth putting secondary 30 degree angle on blade to save time before sharpening again and again. Method works for you so who gives a hoot how you sharpen it. Would also recommend that you put blade assembly in the plane before flattening bottom as they can sometime distort a bit so that its not flat when actually using it. Still not a bad buy. Rebuild a plane before CNC what will they say???? Does this mean more proper wood projects in future? Only kidding. Keep up having fun with stuff.
Rebuilding the plane is easy in comparison to getting to the CNC! Plane was supposed to be a ‘quick one’ that would free up some time to get on with the CNC, hasn’t worked out quite like that though. 🤷♂️👍
You do know you can get a jig to go on your Veritas honing jig to set the primary and secondary bevel also there is a fantastic book called The Complete guide to Sharpening by Leonard Lee
Peter Millard look in one of your Festool Systamers, I use mine all the time love the video by the way I am going more hand tool based purchased a Nobex Mitre system and it’s Hunan powered
your workshop is the same as my house my wife gets the kitchen done up then it makes the rest of the house look a mess, same could be said with your MFT work top
Thanks Peter, in that blog you also address a question I've been asking myself about buying one of the many pattern MFT inserts as an 'on the cheap' option for track saw registering etc. There's one which comes with six bench dogs included for sub £50. I've already made some DIY dogs with cut down bolts and, would you believe, pressure washer motor pistons. The latter are very smooth and aesthetic in use.
Peter, maybe I missed something but what happened to the name “10 minute Workshop” and your statement “10 minutes is never enough”? Is this another RU-vid stream and that old title exists somewhere else?
