Stanley Plane Handle

[Henk Marais]

I inherated my fathers Stanley jointer Plane. The handle is broken and I would like to repair it. I do not want to replace it because I feel it would alter the plane (from a sentimental point of view).

My question is what kind of wood does Stanley use as I would like to mach it as close as possible.

PS: The plane must be about 50 years old.

[Bruce Haugen]

I have a 50-year old Stanley #5, and the handle is some nondescript wood, maybe beech, made to look dark.

OTOH, on my oldest Stanley, (1858 - 1867 patent dates), and on up through 1917 patents, the handles are rosewood. I don't know when Stanley stopped using rosewood.

Bruce

[Zahid Naqvi]

If you are not going to replace the handle and only repair it what difference does it make what wood it is made of? On the other hand if a piece is broken off and you are going to make that and stick it on the original handle that's a different matter. The best way to detect the wood would be to sand down the handle completely to the bare wood, but then it would get rid of all the patina which will make the look very different once you apply a new finish.

[Henk Marais]

I went back to the handle and made a small nick in the wood where the piece broke off. The wood seemsverry red and I do think it could be rose wood.

I dont know where my father got the plane from and he might even have inhereted it so with my limited knoledge there is no telling how old the plane realy is.

[Gary Roberts]

Henk

Do you want to replace the tote, replace a part of it or just repair a break? Also, if you take a look for any patent dates on the bed of the plane, or on the lever, that would help to date it and zero in on the wood.

Nichel's page

http://www.sover.net/~nichael/nlc-wood/index.html (http://www.sover.net/%7Enichael/nlc-wood/index.html)

and the good ol' Stanley Blood n Gore

http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan0a.html

can lead you down the dark path to stanley plane type studies.

Best
Gary

[Maurice Metzger]

Henk, when you do repair it here's some info:

http://www.wkfinetools.com/tRestore/plane/fixTote/index.asp

You need to scroll down to the bottom of this one:

http://www.cianperez.com/Wood/WoodDocs/Wood_How_To/INDEX_How_To_pages/Smalser_on_RehabbingPlanes.htm

Maurice