Clifton Plane quality?

[Rolf Safferthal]

Recently I bought a new Clifton 420 rabbet plane. Not the cheapest available plane for such a job.

To my disappointment the plans shows a inadequate manufacturing quality:
- The cap iron is covered with blowholes, some small, some not so small.
- The bolt holding the cap iron in place has an uneven length. The right side is 5,4 mm long, the left one 3,1 mm only. This leads to a bolt overlapping the right side of the plane
- the cap iron itself has a more or less destroyed footprint that rides on the blade. One corner is razed away with some pretty rough grinding equipment. No finishig at this place.
- The planes body seems to be casted in a pretty outworn mould with some recognizable breakouts.
- Some parts of the plane´s´body were not cleansed after moulding and full of slag or cinder.

Has anybody experience with Clifton planes and their quality level?

[tim langford]

I don't have the rabbet plane but my Clifton Bench planes are excellent quality and they work very well. I wonder if you should return it and ask for a replacement or your money back. The quality of yours doesn't seem consistent with my experience. By the way, if you have any interest in a wood plane, HNT in Australia makes an excellent rabbet plane. The adjustments can be very fine once you get the hang of it. Beautiful to hold too.

[Mark Singer]

I have several Cliftons and they are excellent!

[Rolf Safferthal]

Is there a possibility that my plane is a clone (product piracy) or someone is dealing with production rejects?

[John Miliunas]

Rolf, I only have one Clifton (#5) and the quality/performance is great. I've heard a couple other comments about Clifton not being "quite to the standards of LN, for example", but nobody to the best of my knowledge, has indicated the real poor quality you refer to. It just doesn't make sense that Clifton would put their name on something that out of whack. :eek: If you purchased it from another vendor, other than an authorized Clifton dealer, I'd venture to say that anything is possible. I still doubt Clifton would allow their name to be out there on something that bad and would most likely NOT allow "rejects" out of their facility. Were I in your shoes, I'd check on getting a total replacement from whence you got it. If you can't, check directly w/Clifton. If it's a "clone" or reject, they'd probably be "interested" in finding out where you did get it! :D Good luck and keep us posted.:) :cool:

[Steve Wargo]

Rolf, I have the same plane you're talking about. But I purchased mine about 6 or 7 years ago and have none of the issues that you're having. I purchased it well before LN came out with thier medium shoulder plane and can speak nothing but good comments on the Clifton. The plane's iron was not at all honed, or shaped correctly, but it didn't take too long to get sharpened and into use. I'd try to return it and look at another one before purchasing it. good luck.

[John Todd]

I have two Cliftons (#4 and #7) and find them excellent quality... as good as LV or LN. ( I actually prefer them to my LN Bench Planes in some respects. ) Return it and get a replacement or refund

[Steve Wargo]

Welcome to the Creek John...

[Rolf Safferthal]

Only to give some idea about the quality level I experenced with that Clifton plane:


outworn body mould:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_6561666136336535.jpg (http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_6561666136336535.jpg)
cap iron, uneven foot:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3438623263333936.jpg (http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3438623263333936.jpg)
cap iron bolt: asymmetricl bolt, blowholes:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_6535343635303366.jpg (http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_6535343635303366.jpg)
more blowholes:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3465366465626534.jpg (http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3465366465626534.jpg)
cap iron foot, even more blowholes:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_6561363161373931.jpg (http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_6561363161373931.jpg)
bolt overlapping:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3439643964353135.jpg (http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3439643964353135.jpg)
cap iron foot misalignment:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3864613835323034.jpg (http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/1280_3864613835323034.jpg)

Pretty weird!

[Keith Hooks]

I bought a similar plane from Woodcraft a few years ago and it did(does) have a some problems with it. Overall the fit and finish is very poor. Also, the cap iron was grossly out of flat and had to be reworked. The edge of the blade bevel was several degrees out of square with the sides and had to be reground. The "throat" opening was less than square but that doesn't seem to affect the function. It's a very functional tool now after I did some work on it, but I still feel a bit burned by the purchase. I don't feel like I got my money's worth.

[Marc Langille]

Hi Rolf,

I bought what I think is the best Clifton plane for the job: the 3110 plane (3 in 1 - shoulder, bullnose, and chisel). It's truly a versatile rabbet plane, and you save yourself money by buying only one instead of 3 planes...


To my disappointment the plans shows a inadequate manufacturing quality...

Has anybody experience with Clifton planes and their quality level?

The sides were dead on at 90 degrees to the sole, and the sole showed no runout/variance over the length of it. This was checked against a new Starrett square. :)

It's awesome for the shoulder/tenon work I did for my table... the cool factor is that it was prepped and honed by Garrett Hack at the class I attended. Even some other people used it, and loved the plane.

Sounds like what the other good folks suggest - send it back for a refund/exchange and possibly consider a 3110? I am not trying to spend your money - it just seemed like the right plane to buy, given it's quality and versatility... :o



To my disappointment the plans shows a inadequate manufacturing quality...

Has anybody experience with Clifton planes and their quality level?