Ah, new rust...

[Scott M Perry]

...I love the smell of old iron and packing materials.

Latest (and likely last for a while) acquisition arrived today. Backstory: I don't have what you'd call a collection of planes. More like a small, useful group. A 3C and a 4 (both Record) a 5 and 7C (both Stanley Bailey), an 18, a 60-1/2 (paperweight), a 101 (just 'cause) and a LV medium shoulder. They all get used. And all the broken and plastic totes and knobs have been replaced with new wood. I made a nice till for them years ago, but there's been a gap in it ever since - waiting for a Stanley 65. I never could find a cheap one, and I let go of the desire for a long time.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Working on the little sycamore box, which was tearing out like mad, I was wishing I had the low angle 65 to try out on fairing the sides. So, I started watching eBay again, and my new-to-me 65 arrived today. Lightly coated with some surface rust, no dings, no cracks, plenty of iron left. Looking forward to the fettling. And I'm making another little box to give it a test run.

And, the rack is now complete.


P1000451 by Scott --, on Flickr

Ah, satisfaction.
Scott

[Joe A Faulkner]

Nice looking collection. I'm not terribly experienced in using hand planes, though in the past few years I've added a few to the workshop, and I have enjoyed utilizing hand planes on a small number of projects. What are the advantages and practical reasons for using the 65 over the 60 1/2?

[Gary Hodgin]

Looks great. Nice set of planes too.

[Joe Bailey]

Scott
Can you explain the purpose of the little hinged lid?

[Scott M Perry]

Nice looking collection. I'm not terribly experienced in using hand planes, though in the past few years I've added a few to the workshop, and I have enjoyed utilizing hand planes on a small number of projects. What are the advantages and practical reasons for using the 65 over the 60 1/2?

Thanks, Joe. Re: 60.5 vs 65, I hate the 60-1/2. Uncomfortable to use, and I could never get it set up to where I was happy with it. the 65 is significantly larger and wider, and the knuckle lever cap is so much nicer to hold. In use, time will tell.

Scott
Can you explain the purpose of the little hinged lid?

Joe, there's storage space under the panel. Once I relocate the till, it will hold my two backsaws, plus a lot of little odds and ends.

[Shawn Pixley]

Very nice. I wish I could leave my planes out like that...

[Chris Griggs]

The knuckle joint planes are cool. I used to have and 18, but never a 65. I agree they are comfortable to hold. Nice!

[Scott M Perry]

Thanks Chris.

Started into fettling. Sole, as received:

Stanley 65... by Scott --, on Flickr

You can see there's a significant hollow behind the mouth, and another off to the side. Lapped on lots of paper and stones:

Stanley 65... by Scott --, on Flickr

Not perfect, but the hollows are gone, and plenty flat for a block plane.

Next, the iron gets some TLC.

[Scott M Perry]

I didn't take pictures of the iron before working on it, but it turned out nicely. Flattened the back on papers and an 8000 grit finish stone (not quite polished, but again, plenty flat).

Stanley 65... by Scott --, on Flickr

Ground the edge square, and honed it.

Stanley 65... by Scott --, on Flickr

Proof of the pudding's in the eating: I had a little scrap of ash sitting nearby, so I planed the face and end grain:

Stanley 65... by Scott --, on Flickr

Okay, arguably not the toughest planing test in the world, but I don't work pine that often, and this is more representative of what I'll actually do with the plane.

So, there you go. An hour's worth of fettling and the plane is in good order. Now I need to make another of those little boxes and run this thing through its paces. Not sure what I'll do with another one of those boxes, but they're fun to make, so why not?

Thanks for looking.
Scott