Multi-Plane

[Rhyolith]

A friend keeps going on about an old Multi-Plane model with 200+ cutters or some such thing outragous figure. He cannot remeber the model number, but it was probably the top of the range model from either Stanley or Record.

Does anyone know the one he is on about?

 

[katellwood]

Stanley 55
Stanley 45
Record 405

 

[Cheshirechappie]

I think there were several versions down the years - indeed, it's arguable that some metal plough planes verged on multi-plane status. However, I think the commonly referred to ones are the Stanley 45 and even more comprehensive 55, and the Record 405, later offered by Clifton (they seem to have dropped it from the range in recent years, though). In all cases, the maximum number of cutters was in the fifties, I think, with some being supplied as standard with the plane body, and some as extras. There were also some hollow and round skates and cutters supplied separately for some versions of the plane.

There were others down the years - more here - http://www.cornishworkshop.co.uk/combinationplanes.html

 

[AndyT]

The Stanley 45 and the Record 405 were pretty much identical. They both came with straight cutters for grooves and rebates, beading cutters, T&G cutters and a combined moulding + rebate cutter for sash work. They are reasonably practical tools, but as with anything that has a set of options, some will be used a lot less than others (or never) and the time taken to swap from one mode to another is not negligible. They both had a main body (with a skate along the bottom like a plough plane) and an extra skate which slid on rods and could be set to width.

The Stanley 55 was a step up in complexity, as it came with the standard body + sliding section, but the skate on the sliding section could rise and fall. This made it possible to use a wider range of cutters for mouldings - eg ogees - where the shape is not symmetrical. (It also made it possible to set the skate in a wrong position when you just wanted it to be parallel.) It also had an extra skate - the 'auxiliary centre bottom' - which was needed for some shapes of rarely used cutter but often got lost.

There was a standard set of cutters that came with the plane, but you could also buy extra sizes and blanks to grind your own.

It's a wonderful monument to nineteenth century inventiveness, but is not as good as a workshop full of dedicated planes made to do a particular job - that's my opinion and also that of many others. It's no surprise that surviving examples are often in little used condition.

 

[John15]

Stanley 55. http://supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan8.htm

John

 

[deema]

A 45 is a great plane for plough and rebate cuts. Because you are using hand tools, speed is not going to be the primary concern. As a way of working out what dedicated planes will be most useful I don't think you can have a better starter tool. For me, the 55 is too complex.....and too expensive! To the best of my knowledge the 45/405 don't suffer from. The problems of parallel skates that the 50's seem to have in some instances.

If you look on auction sites, and there is a good view of the cutters you will see which are normally used, they are shorter than the rest. When I bought my Record 405, only three cutters (1/4,3/8,1/2") had been used, the rest were factory fresh!

 

[Rhyolith]

Thanks everyone. I think the Stanley 55 is the one he was referring to!

They really are expensive! http://www.oldtools.co.uk/plough-combi- ... plane.html This one has 90 cutters apparently!

 

[AndyT]

That's a somewhat optimistic asking price from a dealer.
I paid less than a fifth of that at auction for mine. (Admittedly with only the standard cutters, and I had to make my own box.)

 

[Rhyolith]

Its an expensive site that, but it tends to be good for complete examples of tools.

Thanks for the photo, I can see why my friend wants one from a visual point of view... they are very elegant things!