Hello,
I've just joined the forum and my first post is regarding a Stanley No. 3 Plane I bought (type 19 I believe) and the numerous oddities I've encountered with it. I'd love to learn about the #3 in general and find out if the type 19 is usually as much of a mixed bag.
At first look, it's in great condition and nothing seemed out of whack. But while attempting to tune it up, I found:
- The mouth was not at a right angle to the plane sides in the front or the back - fixed
- The blade has a slight taper (1/32" over its length) - didn't noticed until blade reground and sharpened, minor
- The frog doesn't sit flat on the four casting points in the base - it rocks forward as the bolts are tightened. Off by a bit less than 1/32".
- The blade will not sit square to the mouth without shimming one side of the frog - using a couple of 1/32" washers as shims for now
- Two holes in the base casting (one for frog, one for frog adjustment) are drilled off-center - ground down one washer to let the bolt engage when frog positioned as desired
- The mouth is too narrow to allow the plane blade to be set for anything besides the thinnest of shavings, as you would on say a #7
There are so many things wrong with the plane that I find it hard to believe it's not a QA reject that accidentally made its way out of the factory.
I (perhaps foolishly) spent several hours on this plane yesterday. I've read that the type 16-19 planes are decent, and the type 20 are the ones to in general stay away from. I have a #6 type 20 and other than trying to keep the frog in alignment while adjusting it, it's otherwise a fine plane.
It's clear to me that the plane is probably not worth investing any more of my time on, but I'd like to take the opportunity to get some learning out of it. My various searches via Google and on the site didn't yield much negative about the type 19 but since it appears to me that Stanley ruined the frog mounting and adjustment in the newer ones I won't be buying any of these again. I don't have a specific need for the #3, it was more or less an impulse buy. My #4C (my great-grandfather's, beat but very usable), #5, #6 and #8C are doing me just fine.
On the last bullet point, is the mouth on the #3 typically quite narrow like this? I can't move the frog forward or backward one iota without hitting one side or the other of the mouth in the body. The blade is factory, 0.085", not a thick aftermarket one.
Cheers,
- Leo