Record SS 4 1/2 a couple of questions

[Doug B]

I've recently inherited a Record SS 4 1/2, it's in a pretty bad state of repair but looks to be of quite an old vintage.

As this has some sentimental attachment I am looking to restore it to it's former glory so have sent the body & frog away to be bead blasted & mating surfaces re-machined. I am also getting the bits that should be chrome re-chromed, but before I do this I was wondering if it is possible to get new replacement chrome screws & if so where from?

What is left of the enameling (?) looks to be a blue colour, as I would like to restore the plane to as near as original as possible could anyone tell me the best coating to achieve this. I know this has been mentioned on the form before but as I can't remember the name of the stuff I'm unable to search for it.


Cheers.


Doug

 

[G S Haydon]

Hello Doug,

This resource might be useful http://www.recordhandplanes.com/restoration.html

 

[AndyT]

There have been quite a few threads on this question. One difficulty is that Record used several different shades of blue. But have a read through these quite long threads for lots of good information:


https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/my-first-plane-restoration-t52629.html

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/war-finish-record-no6-t50561.html

 

[Doug B]

Thanks for the info, it appears my plane is even older than I thought.

Cheers.


Doug.

 

[matthewwh]

Sounds like you are really going to town on this one Doug!

As you are planning to make such a nice job of it, it might be worthwhile entering it into the plane 'pimping' (awful expression) competition in next months F&C.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

This resource might be useful http://www.recordhandplanes.com/restoration.html

It's a bit of a pity that that 5 1/2 which started out as a nice stay-set version gets degraded to a regular model during the restoration :wink: .

 

[G S Haydon]

Very sharp eyes Tony or should I say Columbo

 

[Vann]

This resource might be useful http://www.recordhandplanes.com/restoration.html

It's a bit of a pity that that 5 1/2 which started out as a nice stay-set version gets degraded to a regular model during the restoration :wink: .

Ahh, I had missed that detail. I wonder why he did that? Those 2¼ inch wide No.05½ planes are fairly hard to come by - he must have two, as he appears to have two cap-irons (1 SS & 1 not), and two lever-caps (1 with 'SS' & 1 without).

Cheers, Vann.

 

[bugbear]

... & mating surfaces re-machined.

Where on earth did you find someone offering that?! To be honest they're not normally that far out - Jimi has shown how to do a fitting job using the old technique of carborundum valve pasting and a bit of rubbing (just like seating a valve, in fact).

post488686.html?hilit=lap%20seats#p488686

BugBear

 

[Racers]

Hi Doug

The screws are English Plane Thread or in the US 12-20 so I don't think you will be able to buy them, they weren't chromed apart from the lever cap screw.
I have used the blue Rustins spray paint from Wilcos before.
+1 for the valve lapping paste.

Pete

 

[Vann]

The screws ...weren't chromed apart from the lever cap screw.

Pre-war (WW2) Records had nickel plated screws - specifically: frog screws & washers; frog adjuster fork and screw; frog adjuster screw; lever-cap screw. I don't think the handle bolts, toe screw, nor cap-iron screw were plated.

This was dropped during the war due to nickel shortages (I have nickel plated frog screws in one warfinish Record) and not resumed after the war.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Very sharp eyes Tony or should I say Columbo

Being sharp eyed for details like that I how I picked up a Record 5 1/2 SS of the early type with the 2 1/4" cutter off e-bay as the only bidder. It pays to look closely at items which have just the one, not so great photo - I get the impression most people pass them by. Often from the less experienced seller who doesn't realise when they have something a bit out of the ordinary.

Regarding these restoration photos - I guess they are from two different restorations. It is so easy to forget to use your camera in the enthusiasm to get on with a WIP, I find. I do feel uneasy about that shiny chrome (or is it nickel) lever cap. I quite like the patina of the older ones with just a faint memory of their nickel plating left. The newer ones with blistered, peeling chrome, now they do need sorting.

 

[Doug B]

Once again thanks for the info.

All the screws I've removed showed signs of having once been plated, I'd presumed they had been chromed but from the dating info in G S Haydon's link it would appear the plane is pre-war & with Vann saying they would have been Nickel coated it all seems to tie in.
Fortunately the chap who was going to chrome the plated parts for me has said he can nickel plate them so an add bonus there in my attempt to keep the plane as original as possible.

As for machining, when I restored another inherited 4 1/2 a few years ago, a Stanley that time I found getting it machined on a Bridgeport the quickest way to achieve what I wanted & as I'm still happy with how that turned out I think I'll go down the same route.

Everything is on hold at the mo until I get the body back from the bead blaster, as only when I see the results of that will I know what needs doing next.

Cheers.


Doug.

 

[iNewbie]

Fortunately the chap who was going to chrome the plated parts for me has said he can nickel plate them so an add bonus there in my attempt to keep the plane as original as possible.
.

Nickel goes on before the chrome plate - so its under it, so he was halfway there already.