Stanley No 5 Jack Plane Type 11 1910-18 Restored Tuned

Description

Bought this one recently and the only thing missing was the tote. It need a total restoration, only a hint of the original japanning was still present. It had lived a rough life, but there were no cracks in the casting and no chips or breaks on the mouth. When I got around to restoring it, I picked a tote in my stash that matched the color of the knob. Before I put a tote or knob on a plane I always try to break it and see if it has any small hairline cracks that are not visible, and this tote had what I call a “hinge” crack. Where one side is still attached but it obviously no longer solid. I’m not a big fan of tote repairs and I try to make sure that all the planes I tune have solid repair free furniture. But if I’m gonna repair it, I want it to be just as solid as before it gave out. I’ve used Dutchmans before and they work really well. On this one it has one on each side that is Cocobolo Rosewood. Im not a fan of the splicing of a different type of wood or sandwiching to repair a tote. It creates double the glue joint and well I just don’t like the look. Sorry if that offends someone, I don’t mean to and to each their own. A friend of mine walked in and saw it yesterday and called it “The Black Widow” kind of looks like it but I certainly won’t call it that. I call it “plane”. The tote and knob have been re-lacquered and then hand polished to a silky smooth feel. The sole has been lightly lapped and checked at the toe mouth and heel. It has some light pitting on the sole and could be lapped out, but I only lap to the point that it needs to be. The edges of the sole have been relieved to prevent marring of the surface while planing. The mouth is good with no chips cracks or alterations. The iron is near full length she’s not pretty, but she’s gorgeous where it counts and that the back side of the business end. She’s been lapped flat and honed with a 10,000 grit Ohishi Water Stone, Scary Sharp and makes see through shavings in black cherry with a finish as smooth as glass. The back of the chip breaker, as well as the frog adjustment tab and screw, and the small tote screw on the front have been re-blued just as they would have left the factory in New Britain 110 years ago. The lever cap and chip breaker have been lapped at their contact point with the iron to ensure a firm seat and reduce chatter. The frog sits firm and square in the body and has been checked for rocking. All screws have been oiled and move freely. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Or if you want to tell me how ugly the repaired tote is, I’ll listen.