Jointer plane wood block

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Okay, strange question.

In the process of restoring a #8 Stanley jointer. I did a search and found nothing about it. What is that wooden block in front of the blade for? Personally, I can't see a reason for it. I'm just curious. The one I'm restoring now, the block is quite beaten up from the previous owner(s). Do I need it?

Thanks in advance!

[Bill Houghton]

The only wooden object in front of the blade on a factory-standard No. 8 Stanley plane is the round knob at the very front that you grab with your fingers. Sounds like a previous owner may have added it for some reason lost in history. Pictures might help us offer suggestions.

[Pedro Reyes]

Okay, strange question.

In the process of restoring a #8 Stanley jointer. I did a search and found nothing about it. What is that wooden block in front of the blade for? Personally, I can't see a reason for it. I'm just curious. The one I'm restoring now, the block is quite beaten up from the previous owner(s). Do I need it?

Thanks in advance!

I am not sure I understand what you describe, the only wood pieces on Stanley bench planes are the tote and knob (handle and front knob). A picture would be very helpful.

Pedro

[Jim Koepke]

Pictures always help to develop a well reasoned answer.

My best guess is it might have been an attempt prevent something like this when taking super thin shavings:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?147087-Must-Learn-to-Keep-Mouth-Closed

jtk

[Kyle Iwamoto]

317929

If I can figure out how to load a 2 megabyte file, I would. I had trouble before, so I hardly post pictures.....

Okay, I figured out how to make it smaller. But that's the block in front of the blade. Not the knob. I don't think it's a user installed block, since my other jointer has the same block.

Thanks!

[Jim Koepke]

I do not think it is factory installed.

It may be something used for a particular need or maybe a specific type of wood that would need a little deflection to avoid coming straight out of the mouth.

Does the wood go through the mouth?

jtk

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Does the wood go through the mouth?

jtk

No, I just sits on the ledge in front of the mouth. Both #8's I have, have those blocks. It's firmly in there, the one I'm refurbishing now looks like the previous owner tried to pry it off, so it has some damage. Hence my original question. And since I got the jointers a few years apart, I don't think it's coincidence someone added the same block. Wonder if it could have been a popular "modification" way back then..... Both the jointers happen to be 8C's. Wonder if that has anything to do with anything...... I did scroll through the biding bay pics of #8s, didn't see any with the block.

Interesting. Thanks for the replies!

[Jim Koepke]

Maybe a few guys in the same shop or school used them as thumb rests.

Sometimes modifications to a tool became popular in a region or even a single workplace.

jtk

[george wilson]

I'm not a Stanley expert,but I have never seen a block like that. To tell the truth,I'd just leave it there as part of the history of the plane. It doesn't look bad,and eventually you might discover what its function does. Maybe it affects the way chips emerge from the throat?

[Jim Koepke]

My curiosity has me thinking on this. One of the things that has crossed my mind is to make shavings and then steam and form them into the pint containers for holding berries.

I wonder if the block of wood some how prevents the shaving from curling so it can be easily removed made into a container.

Just a thought.

jtk

[James Pallas]

Is it possible that someone was trying to create a wier in the throat of the plane to cause the shaving to come up higher and not roll up behind the knob. George would know but isn't that the purpose of the wier in wood planes to keep the plane from choking.
Jim

[george wilson]

I was thinking it would be to affect the shaving. What else could it be for(unless there is some sort of damage to the casting that the wood covered up).

[Allan Speers]

Maybe the idea was to keep the chips from falling back down into the mouth & clogging it? That could maybe be a problem if, for some reason, this plane was typically used to flatten green wood.


Maybe.

[steven c newman]

usually, a shaving will curl right up into a roll. "Moxxon TP" as Herr Schwarz calls it. Maybe the block acts as a ramp to get all them rolls up and out of the mouth area.

[Joe Bailey]

It would be helpful to see a photo of the sole of the plane -- does this block extend down (into) the mouth so as to close it down?
Though a tight mouth is not typically necessary/desirable on a jointer, this is a distinct possibility given the facts to this point.

[James Pallas]

The OP is in Hawaii. It could be that the modification has something to do with a process or type of wood related to Hawaii.
Jim

[Kyle Iwamoto]

The block just sits on the ledge in front of the mouth and does not affect the throat clearance.

I tried using the block for a thumb rest, perhaps, if you wanted to put pressure on the mouth. But why with a jointer I don't know. That was a good thought. Maybe there is a purpose to the thumb rest idea.

It may just "take up space" since there is a large void that fills up with shavings. It does make it easier to grab the shaving out.

Don't think "our" local wood is very different. Some tropical woods are oily by nature, but having a block couldn't affect that. Could it?

Thanks everyone for the ideas and theories. Such a knowledgable bunch of guys. Such an interesting thread. I was just asking because both of the jointers have the same block, and I assumed it was a stock block. Little do I know.....

[Stew Denton]

Kyle,

From your note above, it seems my initial guess is negated. I was thinking that perhaps it was there so that a very close gap between the front of the blade and the wood could be had, kind of a little like an infill plane. However, from what it appears you are saying, if I am reading it correctly, that the block is not rabbited out so that a tiny portion of it sets down into the mouth and in front of the plane iron.

If such had been the case, why? Maybe strange grain it some tropical hardwood that the guy was trying to deal with?

At any rate, such must not be the case.

Stew

[george wilson]

The little block of wood makes the plane say: "LOOO-WOW" every time it is quickly pushed over a board.

[Pat Barry]

I was thinking it would be to affect the shaving. What else could it be for(unless there is some sort of damage to the casting that the wood covered up).


Agreed - the purpose of this block would seem to be to keep the shavings from curling up and clogging the mouth

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Agreed - the purpose of this block would seem to be to keep the shavings from curling up and clogging the mouth

318180
Okay, it would seem that the shavings theory is a sound one. side by side, the top is the #8 with the block, and a #7 without the block below. A few strokes on rough oak. The #8 because of the block, throws the curls in front, keeping the throat clear. The #7 just piles up in front of the blade. The difference is very evident on pine.

Mystery solved?

Thanks all for your comments and wisdom!