I acquired a Stanley #71 router plane, with no cutter.
Can I make one from an allen key with minimal heat treating?
I acquired a Stanley #71 router plane, with no cutter.
Can I make one from an allen key with minimal heat treating?
I’m not totally sure the answer to your question (I think that heat treating would be required) but I Did want to mention that the Lee Valley blades will fit in it.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Yes ....I have indeed made a couple....helps to have one as a pattern, though. Allen wrenches are hex shaped, and you will need to mill them square, BUT, keep them oriented correctly to fit into the plane. As for the cutting edge....keep a big mug full of water close by....grind a tad, dunk, grind a tad, dunk....
Oh, and a Dremel cut-off wheel ( or 3) to cut the slot at the top...and get it to fit the adjusting nut.
Was much easier to just order a cutter from Lee Valley. Yes, you will have to turn the adjusting nut upside down.
I have a 1/2" OEM cutter ( came with the plane) and a 1/4" LV cutter.....which means IF I need to use the 1/2" cutter, I have to reverse that nut, again.
A Planer? I'm the Planer, and this is what I use
Find a book that covers making shaper tooling, chisels, knives, etc. and do some research. Go to your local automotive parts outlet and purchase a length of key stock. Cut off a piece to length, while annealing the length of key stock bend it to app. 95-100 degrees then grind to shape, sharpen and use. Or purchase what you need from a tool retailer like Lee Valley as Tony mentioned. or someplace like Jim Bode Antique Tools.
Thanks, all.