Millers Falls 714 Buck Rogers Plane rebuild

[Eric Brown]

When I got this plane there was a lot of rust, the lever cap destroyed, paint looked bad. Decided to strip it and then nickel plate the whole bottom. I never liked the grey that M-F used and decided to paint the bottom black instead. The frog was also grey and it got a coat of bright silver. Handles were cleaned up a little, but I might try making some wood ones for better looks and feel.

[Tim Best]

Nice work, Eric.

[Frederick Skelly]

Looks good. How well does it perform?
Man, I wouldnt change the knob and tote - they are part of what makes the Buck Rogers so cool looking!

[Eric Brown]

Thanks. It performs nicely. Just don't like the feel of the handles (too plastic and uncomfortable shape for my small hands).

[Jim Koepke]

Eric, imo yours looks better than the original.

jtk

[Ray Newman]

Well done! Nothing like returning old tools to their original form.

[Eric Brown]

Thanks Jim. You should see what else I've been working on.

[Eric Brown]

Ray, I've restored it back into usable condition but not technically correct since I didn't use the original colors. As this plane wasn't in good shape to begin with, it was no longer much of a collectable. I therefore felt I could have a little artistic license.

[Mark Gibney]

Looks great! How do you advance the iron?
I guess I should clarify that to how does the iron get advanced by turning the depth adjustment wheel? It seem to be different than a Stanley plane.

[Eric Brown]

Yes, it is different. With a Bailey/Stanley adjuster there is a left-handed thread the adjustment wheel turns on and it in turn moves the adjuster. On the M-F Buck Rogers series the thread is right-handed and moves a block that then moves the adjuster. Because mechanically there is an extra step the direction is corrected so that turning clockwise will move the blade inward, just like the Stanley. An advantage of this is that the wheel does not travel on the shaft itself and it keeps dirt out of the mechanism.
You can see all these parts at the bottom of the second picture. The wheel is large and the adjustment can be done while in use. (I have small hands but can reach the wheel easily unlike the Stanleys).

[steven c newman]

BEFORE you toss away those Tennite handles....you might ask around...as there are a few people out there that would LOVE to have them for their planes....

[Eric Brown]

I would never toss them but would keep them with the plane. They really are not in good condition with lots of deep scratches and dings.

[Jim Koepke]

I would never toss them but would keep them with the plane. They really are not in good condition with lots of deep scratches and dings.

Keeping them with the plane is a good plan.

Yours may have scratches and dings, someone else may have one or both missing or mangled.

jtk

[Bruce Page]

Here’s my rehabbed MF714. Other than a heavily pitted leaver cap, it is in good condition. It sits unused on a trophy shelf.. :rolleyes:

[Eric Brown]

Here’s my rehabbed MF714. Other than a heavily pitted leaver cap, it is in good condition. It sits unused on a trophy shelf.. :rolleyes:

Very nice except for that lever cap. It could be fixed by plating the top with copper, sanding it down and plating some more. Depending on the depth of the pits it will eventually fill up and a final nickel plate could be put on. The Millers Falls marking would not be filled in with plating as long as some paint is filling it. The trick is keeping the back side from also filling in. But it could be done. Much easier to replace with a used one but that might take a while.

[Bruce Page]

Thanks Eric, I am not a Neander. I do have a few Stanley's for use when needed. I bought the 714 simply because of the cool factor.

[steven c newman]

I know of one fellow, that was in need of the front knob.....to the point he actually CAST his own replacement knob...hardest part was matching the red tennite colour exactly. Took him a few tries, too....harder to do, when you do not have an existing knob to use as a pattern...

[Eric Brown]

I know of one fellow, that was in need of the front knob.....to the point he actually CAST his own replacement knob...hardest part was matching the red tennite colour exactly. Took him a few tries, too....harder to do, when you do not have an existing knob to use as a pattern...

Wonder if he cast it as one piece or two. The originals were two piece and hollow.

[steven c newman]

One piece....solid resin...

[Eric Brown]

Made the new wooden handles. Opinions?

500335

[Rafael Herrera]

I prefer the red tenite handles ;)

[Mel Fulks]

Eric, they look good. I remember when the top grade planes came with rosewood knobs and handles. Wood is good and Buck Rogers
is ready to plan-it.

[Eric Brown]

I considered using a red dye on the wood but decided against it. Wanted it to look different. It also feels much nicer in my hand. The original plastic tote is mostly straight at the back. The wood one is shaped more like a Stanley in the back.

[Bruce Page]

Awesome job Eric! If the two were sitting on the store shelf side by side in 1960 I would grab the wood handled one in a heartbeat.

[Eric Brown]

Awesome job Eric! If the two were sitting on the store shelf side by side in 1960 I would grab the wood handled one in a heartbeat.

Thanks. I think the effort was worth it. If/when I sell it, it will have both sets of handles.

[Eric Brown]

Eric, they look good. I remember when the top grade planes came with rosewood knobs and handles. Wood is good and Buck Rogers
is ready to plan-it.

Thanks. I considered a dark rosewood type wood but didn't want to freak out M-F collectors thinking there was another type. I used sycamore to try and make it look fancy.

[Jim Koepke]

Looks fine to me. As long as it is comfortable in hand and does its job well, you can't ask for any more.

jtk

[Eric Brown]

Thanks Jim.

[steven c newman]

There was a model of Millers Falls planes...Type 4 I think...that had rather fancy handles...
500518
About the same time frame as the Buck Rogers were coming out...
500520
Ain't that a Daisy ?
500521

This is the No.9, Type 4....last of the "good" ones.....I also have the No. 8, type 4 in the til.....

[Eric Brown]

Very nice, hadn't seen one before.