A refurbed Stanley Type 19 No 4 1/2

[Dominic Greco]

I got this No 4 1/2 from Ebay some time last week with the plan of offering it up for sale. When it arrived it was in sadder shape than I expected. The iron was from a No4 sized wood plane and was the tapered variety and the chip breaker was from a Sargent (which would not work with this yoke). The tote was from another (larger) handplane and the rear hardware was missing. With some help from a couple of my friends, I got (or am getting) the parts I needed.

Before:






I had a heavy old Hudson Tool Company iron that was sharpened to the point where it would almost split an atom . I stole a Chip Breaker and Lever Cap Screw from my beater No6, and the tote was one I had in the bone yard. The entire plane was soaked in Evaporust then the sole was flattened, and the body cleaned up and polished.

After:






One I got the sole flattened the performance of this plane went through the roof!

Gratuitous Action Shots:




If you think this was a "rag to riches" story, then wait till you see the other plane that I got along with this 4 1/2! It is coated entirely in black glossy paint! (E-YUCK!!). That one will take a bit longer to clean up.

Thanks for viewing!

[John Keeton]

Dominic, so far I have been lucky on the bay - but I'm sure my time is coming to get stung! Nice work on the plane - and some really great curls!!

[Mike Cutler]

Nice work Dominic. It may be a mish mash of parts for now, but it does appear to work well.
You'll get it together in time with all the correct parts.

[Jim Koepke]

Looks nice, but you did not say how much it set you back.

When it was my turn at bidding on 4-1/2s on eBay, I wasn't willing to go higher than $75. Never won one either.

Got lucky in an antique shop on a type 6.

jim

[Dominic Greco]

Looks nice, but you did not say how much it set you back.

When it was my turn at bidding on 4-1/2s on eBay, I wasn't willing to go higher than $75. Never won one either.

Got lucky in an antique shop on a type 6.

jim

Jim,
While I'm putting this one up for sale soon, I'd rather not say how much I paid. Needless to say, it was much less than $75!

[Ken Werner]

Another nice save Dom.

[Dominic Greco]

Nice work Dominic. It may be a mish mash of parts for now, but it does appear to work well.
You'll get it together in time with all the correct parts.

Mike,
Thanks for the compliments!

Normally I shy away from making a "Frankenplane". Especially one I'm putting up for sale. As I said, the parts I used temporarily to tune the plane up are from a No6. They are the threaded bolt at the rear, the brass nut, and the lever cap screw. The chip breaker is from another No 4 1/2, while the Iron is not.

The replacement parts that are arriving soon are from a No 4 1/2. So once they're in place it'll be "standard issue" (aside from the tote)

When I eventually sell it, I was going to offer the Hudson Iron as an upgrade since it is thicker than a standard Stanley iron and holds an edge like crazy. I wasn't kidding when I said it was "atom splitting sharp"! It cut the heck out of my hand with no effort what so ever!

[Sean Hughto]

I'm always a bit surprised by the expressed revulsion for "franken-planes." It seems this fellow, Henry Ford came up with this thing called mass assembly line production where interchangeable parts could be used to make each item rather than having to be hand fitted for each. When the parts are all identical (or near enough), it doesn't really matter which one the assmbly person pulls out of the bin. Nor does it matter if years later, someone substitutes an appropriate nearly identical part for a failed part. The cable channels are full of shows about overhauling old cars and such. Would someone call these beautiful fully functional restorations "franken-cars?" Obviously, I don't get it.

Sean - the non-purist

[Dominic Greco]

I'm always a bit surprised by the expressed revulsion for "franken-planes." It seems this fellow, Henry Ford came up with this thing called mass assembly line production where interchangeable parts could be used to make each item rather than having to be hand fitted for each. When the parts are all identical (or near enough), it doesn't really matter which one the assmbly person pulls out of the bin. Nor does it matter if years later, someone substitutes an appropriate nearly identical part for a failed part. The cable channels are full of shows about overhauling old cars and such. Would someone call these beautiful fully functional restorations "franken-cars?" Obviously, I don't get it.

Sean - the non-purist

Sean,
Yeah, I see your point. If it's a Stanley product and interchangeable, then what's the difference? the way I see it, if the plane is for home use, who cares? Does it do the job properly?

However, if it was a collectable plane that had obivously different parts on it, AND a seller was trying to market it as the "collectable", that's a whole nother' ball of wax. That's just misrepresentation.

My personal objection is when I buy something marketed as a "Stanley Plane". I expect it to No1; Work. No2, it should be all Stanley parts that fit that plane and work properly. If they are replaced, then they should be upgrades (like a better quailty iron. i.e. Hock, LV, etc)

This all being said, I have a Union No7 that is the "Mutt of my kennel" (so to speak). It has a collection of parts from other planes and I make no apologies for it. Guess what? It is my every day "go to" jointer.

[Victor Stearns]

Nothing like rust to NICE SHINNY METAL!!!!
You've done the plane justice. And the shavings are nice too!
Victor

[Jim Koepke]

I am not too worried about Frankenplanes. Most of mine have had such a treatment because of my preference for the 1-1/4 inch depth adjuster and low style knobs. This is a combination that did not occur on production planes. Having some semblance of original parts is nice. Though, it does not bother me much that my type 4 only has the base, frog and some of the hardware original.

If they work well, then they are likely worth more as good users than as collectable planes.

jim