Dominic Greco
06-17-2007, 10:32 PM
A couple weeks ago I posted a question here that asked if anyone knew much about the Stanley 180 Rabbit Plane. I got some good feedback and decided to keep it (rather than sell it) and clean it up.
Using a part number I got from Clint Jones, I was able to buy a replacement depth stop directly from Stanley for $10 (+S&H).
While I waited for the parts to arrive, I flattened the bottom and polished it to 1500 grit. After that I cleaned the entire assembly with a mineral spirits and a brass brush. All the individual parts were cleaned, and given a coat of oil or wax. The back of the blade(s) (I had 2) were flattened, and the blades were sharpened.
However, when the parts arrived later that week I found that the replacement knurled bolt did not fit in the tapped hole in the plane body. So I attempted to find the bolt/hole size (unsuccessfully I might add). Try as I might I could not find the correct match. After searching for several days, I decided to retap the hole to #10-32 and be done with it. While I was at it, I also recut the threads on the replacement knurled bolt to #10-32 as well. It was an easy process and took all of ten minutes.
Once it was assembled, it performed surprisingly well! I look forward to the next time I need to tweak a tennon to get perfect fit.
What do you think?
I'm on a roll now! I think my next plane to restore will be that old wood jack plane I just picked up last week, or a Union (Maybe Sargent?) #6 Jointer.
Thanks for viewing.
Using a part number I got from Clint Jones, I was able to buy a replacement depth stop directly from Stanley for $10 (+S&H).
While I waited for the parts to arrive, I flattened the bottom and polished it to 1500 grit. After that I cleaned the entire assembly with a mineral spirits and a brass brush. All the individual parts were cleaned, and given a coat of oil or wax. The back of the blade(s) (I had 2) were flattened, and the blades were sharpened.
However, when the parts arrived later that week I found that the replacement knurled bolt did not fit in the tapped hole in the plane body. So I attempted to find the bolt/hole size (unsuccessfully I might add). Try as I might I could not find the correct match. After searching for several days, I decided to retap the hole to #10-32 and be done with it. While I was at it, I also recut the threads on the replacement knurled bolt to #10-32 as well. It was an easy process and took all of ten minutes.
Once it was assembled, it performed surprisingly well! I look forward to the next time I need to tweak a tennon to get perfect fit.
What do you think?
I'm on a roll now! I think my next plane to restore will be that old wood jack plane I just picked up last week, or a Union (Maybe Sargent?) #6 Jointer.
Thanks for viewing.