Stanley spokeshave #54

[MarcW]

Hi all,

Recently I bought a #53 spokeshave, the one with the adjustable mouth. Great tool! I installed a Hock replacement iron and it works very fine.

Now I read in the "Handplane Book" by Garrett Hack it exists a #54, looking all the same in the book's pic as mine, the #53. I got no information anywhere about the difference. I guess someone here will know...

Thanks in advance for any hints,

Marc

in spokeshave collector mood #-o

 

[MikeW]

Hi Marc,

"The #53 and #54 are similar to the #51 and #52 (#53 has the curved handles
and the #54 the straight), but they have an adjustable throat. A pivotable,
cast iron (some are made with gun metal) yoke is pinned to the main casting.
The lower portion of this yoke acts as the front of the sole, and it is
moved nearer or farther to the iron by means of a thumb screw at the yoke's
top. Beneath the yoke, to the right and left of it, are two small springs
that push the yoke away from the iron as pressure on the yoke is relieved
via the thumb screw. These springs also offer some tension on the yoke as
it's adjusted. Make sure that the springs are present otherwise the yoke
will move freely and not stay in place.

The iron is held to the tool with a slotted screw. The iron itself is
slotted for roughly two-thirds its length, with the slot running all the
way through the top end of the iron. The iron must be designed this way
to allow the yoke's thumb screw to place pressure on the main casting and
not on the iron. If the thumb screw made contact with the iron, the iron
would be near impossible to set. Once you learn the quirks of this tool,
you'll find it nice to use."

The whole article on WoodCentral is here. Courtesy of Pat Leach I believe...

Take care, Mike

 

[MarcW]

Many thanks Mike,

Marc