Against the good sense instilled by Grandpappa; and, for my sins, I bought it. I seemed somehow ‘indecent’ to walk away from the call. Anyway, for weel or woe; I own it. Two days worth of time and effort – until about 4 pm – the old girl took her first shavings. Wow – I’d set the thing on a bit of old, very dry Pine no challenge. Then, cautiously, I took the plane onto a ten inch wide ‘American Oak’ (22 mm tick) board which I have had some trouble getting into wind. Well; the simple pleasure of taking off beautiful shavings with such a nicely balanced instrument – frankly, blew me away. What a pleasure it is to use. ‘Nuff said. So, to my wee problems:-
(i) The back handle is a plywood ‘fix’. Well made but not correct. I have a lump of ‘Rosewood’ (the real deal) from which a new handle could be made – but – I’ve no idea of how to make one – same as the original. I doubt that there is a convenient ‘stockist’ of such things. So, I’m beggared for ideas. Can anyone, even those who make planes assist. I would like to keep it ‘near’ to the original. No intention of selling it on; it is rather lovely to use and it is a ‘timber taker’ from thick to translucent across the wide Oak board.
(ii) There are some ‘hairline’ cracks originating from the ‘back’ of the throat – short and not intrusive’. The bottom is now ‘fettled’ and as said, the thing works beautifully. I would however appreciate any ‘sage’ advice about the ‘cracks’.
Apart fro being ‘oil’ hungry, and needing a fair amount of elbow grease, the old girl seems to be quite happy taking shavings. So, I would like to bring the thing back to ‘first class’ condition.
At present it is clean, serviceable, sharp and working very well; and bar the handle a delight.
For the record – as near as I can tell – the base was made pre 1902 – the low front knob (a little loose) supports this. The ‘Bailey’ name is on the toe and the letters on the lateral are ‘vertical’. Red paint mingles with black and the depth adjuster is about an inch - and very sensitive. There is no ‘frog’ adjustment barring the ‘screws’ the whole thing is ‘simplicity’ itself. Anyway – FWIW, I like the old thing and it does do exactly what it should do; so it has a new home. Any help appreciated.
(i) The back handle is a plywood ‘fix’. Well made but not correct. I have a lump of ‘Rosewood’ (the real deal) from which a new handle could be made – but – I’ve no idea of how to make one – same as the original. I doubt that there is a convenient ‘stockist’ of such things. So, I’m beggared for ideas. Can anyone, even those who make planes assist. I would like to keep it ‘near’ to the original. No intention of selling it on; it is rather lovely to use and it is a ‘timber taker’ from thick to translucent across the wide Oak board.
(ii) There are some ‘hairline’ cracks originating from the ‘back’ of the throat – short and not intrusive’. The bottom is now ‘fettled’ and as said, the thing works beautifully. I would however appreciate any ‘sage’ advice about the ‘cracks’.
Apart fro being ‘oil’ hungry, and needing a fair amount of elbow grease, the old girl seems to be quite happy taking shavings. So, I would like to bring the thing back to ‘first class’ condition.
At present it is clean, serviceable, sharp and working very well; and bar the handle a delight.
For the record – as near as I can tell – the base was made pre 1902 – the low front knob (a little loose) supports this. The ‘Bailey’ name is on the toe and the letters on the lateral are ‘vertical’. Red paint mingles with black and the depth adjuster is about an inch - and very sensitive. There is no ‘frog’ adjustment barring the ‘screws’ the whole thing is ‘simplicity’ itself. Anyway – FWIW, I like the old thing and it does do exactly what it should do; so it has a new home. Any help appreciated.
