Striker button on Mathieson jointer

[63pmp]

Hello,

I have recently come into ownership of a 22 inch wooden Mathieson jointer. The only striker button on it was on the front of the body, but it is no longer present, just the impression of where it was remains.

From the shape of the impression it was a wide disc, and held on with steel pins, the remnants of some still remain.

I am hoping that someone here will know what the button was made of.

Thanks for your help.

Paul

 

[Racers]

Usually end grain Box wood.

Pete

 

[63pmp]

Thanks for your reply Pete; though I am having trouble picturing how end grain would survive as its not the usual button type.

I am fairly sure the button is a thin disc of some material.

I have got some photos of the plane.

You can see the impression of the disc and the remnants of the pins used to nail it onto the plane.

Is it possible it's some kind of parochial Aussie add on?

Paul

 

[D_W]

I would guess add-on. My mathiesons have not had strikes.

 

[AndyT]

In my experience, strike buttons are usually found on the "technical" jack plane (the one with the razee handle, designed for schools) but rarely seen on other bench planes.
They are not shown in the 1899 Mathieson catalogue.

Your plane's nailed on button was clearly not a brilliant bit of design, as it's fallen off!

If you want to add one, turn a peg from boxwood and drill a hole in the plane to hold it.

 

[ED65]

Digging those pins out is going to be a pain but I think it would be worth the effort.

If you want to add a striking button then boxwood is the traditional choice in Britain but shouldn't be considered the only option, many hardwoods will suffice. Hornbeam would be great but even oak or ash should stand up to the rigours of use. They can even be metal, here's one on a plane made by Derek Cohen.

 

[sunnybob]

That looks more like a trophy plaque to me. That would explain the ring of small pins.
Looks like whoever owned it wanted the plaque but not the plane, so levered it off.

 

[bugbear]

Ah - given the size, and the pins, I suspect the strike pad was a disc of leather, which I've seen before, and always a user modification.

BugBear

 

[G S Haydon]

I have a strike button on a Marples Try, (well the iron is a Marples). It's black, ebony?

 

[63pmp]

Thanks for all the replies,

I think I will leave the plane the way it is, will probably punch the proud pins further in as pulling them out might cause more damage.

I can see that a leather pad would give some protection, but a proper mushroom button in hardwood would be better; though I'm disinclined to put another scar on the old plane.

Regards

Paul

 

[bugbear]

I can see that a leather pad would give some protection, but a proper mushroom button in hardwood would be better;

Oh, heartily agreed - I wasn't recommending a leather disc, just saying it's what used to be there.

BugBear

 

[63pmp]

I can see that a leather pad would give some protection, but a proper mushroom button in hardwood would be better;though I'm disinclined to put another scar on the old plane.

This was more a comment on the "that'll do" attitude than putting another leatber disc on.

paul