Does 2 3/8" LV replacement fit a Stanley 5 1/2?

[Mike Nguyen]

Hi, I don't have the Stanley 5 1/2 yet but I am looking for one to add. Am I right to assume that the 5 1/2 would take both 2 3/8 and 2 1/4 blade?

Mike

[Mark Berenbrok]

Early 5 1/2s take a 2 1/4" blade, so know what flavor you have before ordering the LV replacement. However, you can always use the LV in a 6 or 7.

[David Weaver]

put up a picture of your 5 1/2 or tell us what type it is.

I have a t11 that I bought as a basket case. Its iron was totally pooched as was the chipbreaker, and I had to trade for a decent lever cap because of a dishonest seller putting a #5 sized chipbreaker. In the end, it cost me almost $100 with shipping to get a 2 1/4" iron and chipbreaker for it. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't get an old type. It's a nice plane, but that's money thrown away. If I'd have had any later ones, I'd already have everything but the iron, and I could get a new iron for $35 and be done.

[Mike Nguyen]

Hi David, Thanks for the reply but I don't have it yet. I probably found one which currently has the 2 3/8 blade and it's type 18.
Mike

[David Weaver]

Yeah, buy the 2 3/8 blade for a late one like that.

I have a later record 5 1/2 that someone gave me, it was a lot easier to find an iron for it.

[Joel Goodman]

If you need a 2 1/4" iron (for the pre 1939 5 1/2) the only one I've seen is the Ray Isles D2 at Tools for Working Wood. I have no experience with D2 although the Ray Isles carbon steel iron is very good. The D2 is a bit pricey at $52 -- I think it's supposed to be more durable --- maybe even more so than A2.

[Matt Radtke]

You can get 2.25" high carbon steel blades from Ron Hock. http://hocktools.com/BP.htm

[David Weaver]

Lie nielsen also makes a 2.25. That's what I have. I don't know that they made the chipbreaker at the time, but if you have a decent one, I'd skip it. I still haven't put the replacement chipbreaker in mine, and it cost a little extra to get it over the normal amount. My stock chipbreaker was pretty well pooched and pitted, but I hid its sins by turning it black with oxpho blue and cleaning up the edge.