Restored WW2 Stanley #4 Smoothing Plane

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:36 pm

Well I have a number of you to thank for recommending to me Evaporust, rust remover. I had this old Stanley #4 in a box of stuff "To Be Restored". The body was covered in rust and it had a tag that indicated I picked it up for $5 at some junk store. I have a hard time turning my back on these old work horses, but I kept putting off cleaning it up because my old methods, before Evaporust, were so time consuming (WD40 and wire wheels).

One of these days I will remember to take Before pictures, but it slipped my mind. It's more fun snapping the After pictures.

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The handles were all crazed. Beginning in 1942 Stanley moved from Rosewood to hardwood, and the old finish was shot. Using a French wheel I removed the old and refinished in a dark mahogany the way they came. Another clue that this plane dates to 1942-1945 is the brass was replaced with a hard rubber adjustment knob and cast screws for the handles.

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I flattened the sides and bottom using the SS sanding disk and finished them on sandpaper on a glass plate. Most of the original japanning (black paint) was intact, but touched-up some spots. Reground the blade. After waxing the body and assembly, it took a fine shaving. Another oldie saved from the trash bin.

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beeg · Post by **beeg** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:44 pm

Looks like ya did a GREAT JOB restoring that plane. It looks like it's new out of the box now.

But maybe it came that way, ya know no BEFORE pic.

friscomike · Post by **friscomike** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:18 am

Planes, you struck a cord. Very nice work, the plane looks terrific, and I bet it smooths better than Shopsmith sandpaper. Persist, mike

enyoc · Post by **enyoc** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:13 am

Great looking resto! I love type 17s (WWII years) they are the best users with the heavier casting, and I like the uniqueness of the rubber adjuster.

What do I mean by type? Read here for more on typing planes: http://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/planes ... typing.htm

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:32 am

Another good type study for Stanley Bench Planes is this one on Hyperkitten

My personal preference in vintage tools are the Miller's Falls models http://oldtoolheaven.com/

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:32 pm

[quote="enyoc"]Great looking resto! I love type 17s (WWII years) they are the best users with the heavier casting, and I like the uniqueness of the rubber adjuster.

Hey guys, first thanks for the "at-a-boys" on cleaning-up this plane. It's good for the old ego! I really do kick myself that I didn't take some before pictures - it was pretty sad. I'll tell you, I had a gallon of Evaporust in a bucket working on my sump pump when I came across this #4 while looking for something in my shop. I quickly took it a part and dropped it into the bucket for several days. It came out looking good and wire brushed it. The rust had pitted the bottom and sides, but nothing around the mouth. The pitting is one reason I sanded it using my SS disk sander first, hitting it with a heavy grit. I didn't get it all out, but it doesn't effect use.

Studying my type books (thanks for the web pages, I've never used the web pages before. Good to know they are there) I've concluded the plane has a bastard lever cap. It seems to be older than Type 12 (older than 1919). It doesn't have Stanley cast across the front, does not have the kidney shaped hole, and has a shorter leaver. The blade, frog, and all other parts appear to be Type 17. Of course this is all "inside baseball" stuff, fun but not necessary to woodworking. However, if you are going to use old tools I have found being an archeologist a hoot.

It is interesting that one of the first things I noted about the plane was it's heavier weight. I have several #4s, to include a Bed Rock which is a favorite. It will be fun to compare the two. I don't have any Miller Falls, but would like to have their Buck Roger's series. I do have Miller Falls braces. I recently came across a stash of 18th and 19th century center bits that I've been cleaning. Mostly English.

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:41 pm

Looking at the Type study web pages I see that some 17s were fitted with key hole rather than kidney shaped lever caps. Maybe it isn't a bastard!

enyoc · Post by **enyoc** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:35 pm

Here's a 5C type 17 awaiting restoration. $10 on CL

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:41 pm

That could make an excellent user. The iron looks rather long, it does have the requisite paint splatters. just a clean and sharpen and you're in business.

I already have 3 Jack/Fore planes in that size
a Type 17 very similar to the one listed above
a Lakeside that I have opened the mouth and put an 8" radius (Camber) on the cutting iron to use as a scrub plane. This thing can take 1/32 inch chips of a board in no time especially traversing across the grain.
and a Millers Falls 14 with a straight iron I use as a large smoother

enyoc · Post by **enyoc** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:50 pm

terrydowning wrote:The iron looks rather long, it does have the requisite paint splatters. just a clean and sharpen and you're in business.

I think it's a factory edge! Other than catching paint I'm not sure this was used

I keep finding Jacks but can't say no. I really want to find a 4 1/2 - that and an 8 are the holes in my collection (and of course a 1 and 2 but no time soon)