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View Full Version : Where to get a screw for Millers Falls plane



Derrell W Sloan
04-21-2013, 12:25 AM
I am restoring a MF #14 plane and it is missing the small screw used to attach the blade to the chip breaker. Any suggestions on where I could find on of these?

Jessica Pierce-LaRose
04-21-2013, 10:17 AM
Well, you could certainly replace the breaker with an aftermarket one - that's what I do frequently anyways, because I often find it easier to just slap a Lee Valley breaker on there than fettle the old one if it's in terrible condition. Those come with a screw. I also find the two-piece Millers Falls lever caps act a little funky with depth adjustment if you've got a traditional chip breaker that has more of a hump than normal.

You can get one on eBay, or call someone like Walt at Brass City. I'm not sure if Stanley still sells them in their spare parts division, but when I ordered some plane parts from them, the shipping cost was kind of crazy - for a single screw I'd try other places.

I looked in my parts drawer, it doesn't look like I've got any left, unfortunately, otherwise I would have just mailed you one, sorry.

The one thing to watch out for is that I've had a few of what looked like identical chip-breakers, but the screws didn't match between the two - no idea how common this is, however.

Erik Manchester
04-21-2013, 3:24 PM
Derrell,

I have quite a few MF parts in the bin and most of the older Type I - III screws would be common. Can you send me a picture of the plane you are restoring to confirm what type you have and I can likely send you whatever you need. If the frog is red and the lever cap is hinged I have what you need. PM me with your address and I will send it to you if you cannot find one closer.

Derrell W Sloan
04-21-2013, 11:11 PM
Thanks Erik, just sent you a PM.

Patrick Dennis
10-08-2018, 12:50 AM
Hi all I'mnew to the forum and my name is Pat, I'm trying to find the correct size screw for a MillerFalls #14 I'm restoring, it's the small screw on the rear handle? it seems to be between a 10-32 and a 1/4 20? I know it is 2o tpi, thanks.

Joe Rogers
10-08-2018, 8:43 AM
That screw is probably a 12/20 screw and it is not a hardware store item. Suggest you start a new thread and ask for help with sourcing the part. The thread you posted to is 5 years old...
Joe

steven c newman
10-08-2018, 9:34 AM
Bolt for the toe of the rear handle is the same as used to hold the frog to the bottom of the plane....

Jim Koepke
10-08-2018, 3:42 PM
Steven,

Do you know if the screw in question is interchangeable between the Millers Falls and a Stanley?

Pat,

Welcome to the Creek. Your profile doesn't indicate a location. You may live near another member who would be happy to give you a proper fastener for your plane.

One of my Stanley #5 planes was missing the same screw. If it is the same thread as on the Stanley, send me a PM with your address information and a Stanley frog screw will be on its way.

On my use of a frog screw for a tote, the head was carefully filed down to look like a round head screw. Now it takes a few minutes to find which plane it is on.

jtk

Patrick Dennis
10-08-2018, 4:22 PM
Joe, Steve and Jim, thanks for the responses. Joe I agree about it being a 12/20 I was trying to find a 12/20 Die but could not so I took a 1/4-20 brass screw and turned it down to the 12/20 Dia. but I did not have the right gear to cut 20tpi on the lathe so I used a triangular file to cut the threads on the lathe and it worked fine since it was brass and easy to file?. If anyone knows where to buy a 12/20 tap and die set I would purchase one, thanks again guys.

Jim Koepke
10-08-2018, 6:17 PM
Joe, Steve and Jim, thanks for the responses. Joe I agree about it being a 12/20 I was trying to find a 12/20 Die but could not so I took a 1/4-20 brass screw and turned it down to the 12/20 Dia. but I did not have the right gear to cut 20tpi on the lathe so I used a triangular file to cut the threads on the lathe and it worked fine since it was brass and easy to file?. If anyone knows where to buy a 12/20 tap and die set I would purchase one, thanks again guys.

Here is a page with the die:

https://www.victornet.com/subdepartments/Special-Pitch-Dies-up-to-1-2/1350.html

And the tap is on this page:

https://www.victornet.com/subdepartments/Special-Pitch-Taps-up-to-1-2/1260.html

They do have a $25 minimum order. To get over that a second tap is good to have. One of mine was ground down to make it a bottoming tap which is needed for shallow holes in cast iron.

My latest order was for a 12-20 die and a 10-28 tap & die.

jtk

steven c newman
10-08-2018, 6:55 PM
Last I heard...Millers Falls, unlike Stanley, used standard sized bolts for their tools.....might want to double check them threads...