cracked plane

[Unib]

I bought a grubby old Record plane on Ebay, got it and discovered it has a crack that runs all the way from the mouth all the way up the body Would it stand any chance of fixing it if I were to epoxy it back together again or would the strain of using the plane just brake it open again?

 

[jimi43]

If it was not declared on the auction I would send it back and chargeback via paypal.

A crack in cast iron is terminal...there are specialist welders but they are expensive and not worth it for your situation.

Jim

 

[Vann]

What jimi says.

A repaired cracked plane has no value except as a user. Unless it's some rarish model you could get three or four more for the cost of a proper repair. You could try epoxy as an experiment, but I very much doubt it would stay together long enough to be worth the bother.

Send it back or keep it for spare parts (even a good iron has to be worth a couple of quid)

And just for a laugh, here's a Record 06 that was offerred here a year back....

Cheers, Vann.

 

[jettagreg]

what plane is it ? you could offer it for sale here, if its a number 3 can i buy the lever cap :lol:

 

[AndyT]

Vann's plane does look a bit rough. I think I was luckier with this old no 4. It's from about 90 years ago and is in good order and works well. Note the extra scoop out of the side, where there must have been a rough, broken edge.

There is a crack in the casting, but it's hidden by this, which I reckon must be nearly as old as the rest of it, is perfectly stable and nicely finished off:

 

[JohnCee]

If it's any help, I have a Record No. 4 base (no cracks). You'd be welcome to it if you can collect.

 

[Unib]

Thanks everyone, bit of a shame as it is a 4 1/2 which are a lit less common - I'm not sure I'll go for the Frankenstein method of repair though :shock: !

 

[Jacob]

I've seen a Record 5 1/2 brazed back together after breaking completely in half. Was brand new but slipped out of the box onto a concrete floor. The new owner burst into tears!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Watch the car boots -you can pick up planes with parts broken or missing for pence, and eventually you just put the good bits together.
I gave a lad I was working with a lovely 4 1/2 that was made of 5 different planes. No good to collect, maybe, but lovely to use.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I have a Record 5 1/2 with one welded cheek, it’s my favourite plane.


Pete

 

[Vann]

Vann's plane does look a bit rough.

I didn't buy that No.06 - it was a little too expensive to buy for parts. I was so impressed/amazed/stunned by that repair that I copied the photos. :roll:

That's a much better repair Andy. I have a Stanley No.3 with a crack down one side. I was considering using epoxy to fix a piece of mild steel sheet (~1.6mm) to the full length (and profile) of the side, but I acquired a Record 03 before I got a round tuit (so no incentive to try it anymore).

My user No.5 has a brase repair down one side (done by a previous owner). It works just fine for me. On the other hand I also picked up a No.4½ with a similar repair, but it's distorted and useless (except for parts).

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Unib]

I like the idea of car boots Phil, but I like the idea of getting out of bed so early on a Sunday morning less!

Rather than sending it back – I'm sure the seller was genuine and didn't know it was broken, and I can't be bothered boxing it up etc – I just look for a replacement sole which looks tidy.

I was just reading up on another forum about people cutting a V out around the crack on a plane and brazing up the gap. Not sure how difficult brazing is, bit disappointed I got rid of the brazing kit out of my dad's old shed now when I cleared it out

 

[Alf]

There has been some reported success using JB Weld (or similar) for this sort of thing. I gave it a go on a Stanley #10, but the crack was too tight and I should really have ground it out to take the stuff, but I was overly nervous. It's on the list to have another go at though. Brazing and such is, apparently, difficult and I seem to recall advise to seek out brass instrument repairers who'd have the skill to do it and not warp the plane. Maybe worth doing on a valuable tool, but a regular bench plane probably not.

You could use the defunct plane sole for a diamond paste substrate, as recently popularised by Derek Cohen (that's to say he got it done and took pictures. Ashamed to say it's been on my To Do list since Noah was a lad). The toe piece could be handy too; viz.

 

[Unib]

The toe as tool rest is a quite brilliant idea and rather amazing you posted the link today as only last night I was welding up the top of my own tool rest for my bench grinder - if only I'd have known about this idea yesterday I could have saved myself a job!!

 

[jimi43]

That is a really nice design mate! =D>

Now stop faffing about with plane soles and make more of that sort of thing! :mrgreen:

Seriously though...I will look around at the next bootfair and see if I can't find a basketcase No.4 1/2 going for nought and I will pick it up for you and post it over. The No. 4 1/2 is a much neglected size and a super plane and worth having a proper one. I love my old rust bucket...

Tarted up quite well..

Jim

 

[AndyT]

Ok, if we are rooting through our 4½ collections, may I also present:

before:

and after:

Maybe not quite so shiny, but just as useful!

 

[Unib]

Thanks Jim, that's very kind of you! I like the feel of the No 4 1/2 - nice and heavy compared to a No 4. Nice job cleaning yours up there too =D>

 

[Unib]

Looks good Andy - I do like that used but lovely look!

Ok, if we are rooting through our 4½ collections, may I also present:

Maybe not quite so shiny, but just as useful!

 

[Scouse]

Looks good Andy - I do like that used but lovely look!

Ok, if we are rooting through our 4½ collections, may I also present:

Maybe not quite so shiny, but just as useful!

How about the just used look?

Got this at a car boot on Saturday, haven't had time to put any boot fair finds up yet from the past couple of weeks, but this I find interesting, American apparently, but no more info than that... V and B (Vaughan and Bushnell apparently) 4 1/2. Any info regarding possible age would be gratefully received. Not sure if it's cracked the rust is thicker than the body!

Bit of tarting yet to do...!

El.

 

[jimi43]

Hey Scouse!

That is fantastic!!!

Very rare here....I think it would go for quite a bit on FleaBay if you aren't keeping it.

Try to avoid the temptation of chucking it in the nearest pond though! :wink:

We need to see your bootfair haul...words don't cut it ya know!!! :mrgreen:

Jim