Can Anybody Identify this plane?

[John Hollander]

I recently picked up this plane and have been having trouble identifying it. It has no markings on it other than a small U as seen in this picture:

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/?action=view&current=IMG_1304.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/IMG_1304.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

here are a few more pictures of the plane:
<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/?action=view&current=IMG_1299.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/IMG_1299.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/?action=view&current=IMG_1298.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/IMG_1298.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/?action=view&current=IMG_1297.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/Jdhollander1/IMG_1297.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Anybody know anything about this plane?

[Bruce Page]

John, welcome to SMC.
Your pictures didn't come up for me.

[David Weaver]

Stamped frog and lever cap. The plane is something to discard if it doesn't have sentimental value.

At a max, you could throw out the lever cap and the frog and take it apart and put the parts in a parts box.

[Sam Takeuchi]

Like David says, this is one of those pedigree of planes that will never make it to be worthwhile. Simply stamped steel construction can't be overcome with any method of tuning.

If anything, this was probably offered as the cheapest line of planes by some store or company. It's probably better you leave it alone. It doesn't really make it as a user, either.

[Jim Koepke]

The pictures do not come up for me.

From what others have said, my eyes are thankful.

jim

[Sam Takeuchi]

Try these:

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4

[jerry nazard]

The pictures do not come up for me.

From what others have said, my eyes are thankful.

jim

Your eyes are thankful. That's a good one!

[Richard Niemiec]

Doorstop.

Or ballast under the lathe.

Those are your choices. Seriously, don't waste your time on this one. Stanley "Handyman's" are superior to this plane, and I wouldn't recommend spending any serious time on a Handyman plane either.

[Scott MacLEOD2]

I actually have one of those planes, amongst many others. Its my loan out, use on bad wood, might as well throw this into the toolbox, why not take this along plane. I keep the blade sharp and dont worry when I nick it. It has a role/use.

Scott

[George Sanders]

To me the stamped frog on a plane is the kiss of death. I bought 3 hand planes yesterday and left the one with the stamped frog for someone who doesn't know better.

[Archie England]

Sir. Please, put the metallic object on the ground, AND back away. Now, please.


As others have so well indicated, this is not a very usable "imitation" of a handplane. Worth was the particular brand on the two I somehow managed to get. I lapped, sharpened, and then discovered that the stamped steel just won't do the deed. Keep the blade and turn it into a scraper or marking knife--that's about all that's salvageable--IMO.

[Eric Brown]

Like other have said, it's not a good user plane.
However, I think it still has value.
Get a good plane, and then when your friends come over
you can show them the difference.
They will then recognize your woodworking
knowledge is going down the proper slope.

Besides, if enough of these poorly made planes are eventually
recycled, the ones left over might increase in value.

You can also turn it into some art-deco style stuff like
book-ends, lamps, etc. and not feel guilty of destroying
a perfectly good plane.

Eric

[Mike Siemsen]

That is what is commonly referred to as a P.S.O. or Plane Shaped Object.
It will work on carpentry projects and is a good loaner or kid plane when sharp. I will not work as a smoothing plane.
Mike

[carl grover]

The lateral adjuster on that "plane" looks like it was made by Sargent to me. Certainly not the pride of the fleet and I doubt anyone from Sargent would admit to ever producing that thing either. However; it does have it's uses.

I suggest using it as an "organ donor". The tote and knob look to be the most useful parts. The blade might work somewhere or as a homemade something or other if you want to spend the time trying to lap out the rust pitting. The steel might be a tad soft though, considering the overall quality. The only other item worthy of mention would be the depth adjuster if you need one. I've yet to see one missing though. The rest of the parts should be mailed to Walmart's R&D department for further study and sales potential.

If you are like me and can't stand to throw anything away, no matter how junky it is, maybe you could have a little fun with this turkey. Grind a pretty aggressive camber on the blade and make a disposable scrubber out of it. It might even work!