Shopsmith Forums

Re sole flattening - a new plane should not need that!

Per Chris Schwartz.


Been a long time since I had one so I gotta accept that as 'gospel'!;)

JPG40504 wrote:Re sole flattening - a new plane should not need that!

Per Chris Schwartz.

The blade SHOULD be SHARP also. But it isn't.

beeg wrote:The blade SHOULD be SHARP also. But it isn't.

Like mortise(and lathe) chisels and many other things that come to mind.

I have yet to see a new "In the box" edged tool sharp to my satisfaction (except razor blades, utility blades etc.) Talking chisels, plane irons, and the like.
Regarding finding inexpensive vintage planes and rehabbing. I highly recommend this. Not only will you figure out how to fettle a plane, you will find they are much higher quality tools than most current new ones Exceptions being Custom Made edge tools from a master tool maker, Lee Valley and of course Veritas. Most plane users i have met prefer vintage hand tools to what is available new from Stanley, Buck Bros. etc through the big box stores and other retail outlets.

I only bought new because it was a tent sale AND I got a free DeWalt toolbox (a nice one) with $50 purchase. The plane, a pull saw, a hand saw, and the toolbox were $60 so new it was.

If it's the 12-204, you will probably have to fettle it. Around $30 retail)
(Flatten the sole, flatten the back of the blade and sharpen, etc.


If it's the sweet heart No. 4 ($150 or so Retail) then you should be good to go. (If not work with Stanley and have it replaced.)

This one will probably also need fettling (Retail around $20)


I have seen people convert a similiar plane from Harbor Freight (Their No. 33) to a scrub plane and have good results (For $10 it may be worth a shot)

It's a Stanley #4, but not the sweetheart. They had the #4 sweetheart, and a different model sweetheart, and the reasonably priced one I bought.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/tools ... 7Aod6FQACQ