Screw-adjusted plough plane

[Mike G]

I have finally had enough of my lever-adjusted Stanley 50 Combination Plane. There is simply too much slop in the system, and I am constantly ripping out chunks and then cutting nothing at all with the merest touch on the lever. So, what should I buy, chaps? Obviously I am talking about a second hand old tool for restoration, rather than some modern boutique mega-bucks thing. The only criteria I have is that it must feature screw adjustment.

 

[AndyT]

I suggest a Record 050 or 405.

Although the 405 is more complicated, as it can do beads, T&G and simple sash, it has a better fence with a fine adjustment. Also, because they came in a nice fitted box, they often come complete and in good condition.

 

[jimhanna]

Nice Stanley 13-050 on UK ebay at present, item no 398176408817 starting bid £25 (nothing to do with me)

The 13-050 is a more modern version of the Stanley 45/ Record 405 (the 405 is a copy of the 45). One thing I like about my 13-050 compared to the 405 is the adjustment and sharpening of the nickers. The 13-050 ones are large and easily worked with, the 405 has the smaller three bladed shamrock style nickers which can be fiddly to sharpen.

The 45/405 can use additional hollow/round bases which are very handy if you don't have a set of wooden hollows and rounds. The special bases are hard to find though and can cost a lot more than the basic 405.
I did make a wooden number 8 hollow and round base set for my 405 (details here https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=230103).

I have manuals for both the 13-050 and 405 if you buy one without.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

I have a 405 (nigh identical to Stanley 45's) and like it. The closed handle - I find - gives a more positive grasp than the open, forward-leaning one of the 13-050 and it's ilk, where a sweaty, or oily, hand can slip off (allegedly).

 

[Lurker]

I’d look on Facebook marketplace, you just might get lucky with one close by.

Edit: I can see one in Sudbury, is that far away?

 

[Mike G]

I’d look on Facebook marketplace, you just might get lucky with one close by.

Edit: I can see one in Sudbury, is that far away?

Sudbury Suffolk is about 5 miles away. But there are 2 or 3 other Sudburys, including one in London.

 

[Cabinetman]

And Sudbury Massachusetts is about 5 miles from me, but I’m not expecting that to be of any use really.
Got around didn’t they.
Ian

 

[duke]

And a Sudbury Ontario about 100 km from me.

 

[Lurker]

It was the Suffolk one, I’m not a complete idiot.

Still available if pull your finger out .

Edit: I may be mistaken in that it is the same version that you are annoyed about.

 

[Pete Maddex]

It was the Suffolk one, I’m not a complete idiot.

What parts missing?


Pete

 

[AndyT]

Apart from location, there are some important differences between the various models.

Looking just at the Record 044, 050 and 405 I'll mention a few.

The 044 uses cutters with grooves on the back. The cutters for the 050 and 405 have a notch at the side. That means it's easy to use, adapt or make cutters for the 050 and 405.

The 044 has a single skate under the cutter, similar to the skate on a wooden plough (but without the locating notch). This is ok for narrow grooves but for wider grooves (or rebates) there's a tendency for the plane to tilt over. The 050 and 405 fix this issue by having a 'sliding section' which supports the nearside of the cutter.

044:


050:


405


That's my long-winded way of saying that I think you'd benefit from having a 405, even if you only ever use it to cut straight grooves.

 

[Dr.Al]

The 044 uses cutters with grooves on the back. The cutters for the 050 and 405 have a notch at the side. That means it's easy to use, adapt or make cutters for the 050 and 405.

The notched cutters is definitely true of the Record #405 and the Stanley #45 and #55. I've made lots of cutters for my #45 and #55 (although I rarely use the latter) and I agree it's very straightforward to make custom ones.

The Stanley #50 has the same style of grooved cutters as the #44 - visible in this picture I nicked off t'web:

Perhaps this is different between the Stanley and Record #50s? It sounds like Mike's got the Stanley one and it's that lever adjuster that was frustrating him (something I agree with - my #50 doesn't get used much).