Handplane Restoration #20: Sliding down the slippery slope - Part 1

You’re going to have me joining you soon. That looks sweet.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

and to think it probably started with a cheap block plane.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

I know what you mean. I spent a lot of time on Blood and Gore and was constantly referring to it when I was bidding on planes. The ones that fascinate me are the router (aka rebate) planes. Since I was a kid, It has boggled my mind that you can put a deep square cut in wood with a hand plane. I understand it now but have not taken the plunge on one of those yet.

What are your thoughts on those? By the way, nice score. You should have that in tip top before you know it with you techniques. How are you going to deal with the finish on this one?

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

I think there’s a pill for that.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Obi, I did start with a cheap block planes. And it mauled the wood horribly. It is amazing how much difference a little knowledge and a sharp blade.

Jeff, I do have a router plane but have not played with it much yet. I would like to get a 271 as well. It is the little brother of this plane.

Tom, please send me a year’s supply of those pills. I could use them.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Hi Wayne, good to see someone else suffer on this Slope as well as me! Don’t be fooled by Chris’ blog – there are lots of features of the Veritas plough that no Record employee would recognise. Hey, that means you need both, right? (I’ve got to stop doing that to people…) Enjoy the 044; right up until the 043 arrives and you fall for it just like everyone else does… ;)

Cheers, Alf

AAah heck, Wayne, yer jus’ havin’ too much fun.

-- Thos. Angle

Thanks Alf, I’m looking forward to seeing the Veritas plough. Are you going to review it offically when it comes out? I was thinking of buying one but thought I would try the originals first before I made that commitment. I’m hoping the 43 is there by the time I get home from this business trip.

Thos. having fun is my goal. : ^ )

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Very nice router Wanye. Is that post-restoration or the condition when you got it? Whatever the case, she’s a beaut!

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

Thanks Jeff. That is the condition it was in when I purchased it.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I love these posts – that’s all I have to say.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Thanks Dorje. Have you got a Plough plane in your arsonel yet?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

No – but I’ll be sure to put one on the tool list! (That I carry with me virtually all the time).

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

A plough remains near the top of the list, though I can’t seem to move on it…

How has your 044 worked out?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

It works pretty well. I would like to compare it to the Veritas version. My understanding is that Veritas was based on this plane.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Man, please don’t get me started on planes! I have enough thing to keep me busy.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Wayne – I recently gave the Veritas a go at the last woodworign show, but since it was my first experience trying a plough, I was hesitant to just go for it. I’m interested in using a 044…

Cyber Tool Swap?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

CTS works. Also there are a number or Record 044s (and 043s) for sale on UK eBay. The shipping is a bit high, but still much less that than a new Veritas.

Gary, you know you need just one more (you always do)

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I’ll have to take a peek…Thanks

Also, another Q…do all 044s use the two guide rods or do some only use one?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Need to have 2. I belive the Record 040 is the only one with a single rod.

You can buy 7mm tool steel and make replacement rods or ones with different lenghts.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Great – thanks -

I looked on Uk ebay and asked a seller the cost of shipping to the US…he quoted me 36pounds…$70

I don’t have a sense of what the actual planes are going for yet though…so can’t tell what total cost might be…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

36 pounds is unreal. I just purchased a Record 043 and the shipping was 9 pounds….$18 Ask a few other sellers. The 044s should not be too bad. I looked at completed auctions and it appeared to be 20-35 pounds for a complete one in good shape. One went for about 58 in mint condition with a box.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Good to know – I’ve got a couple more emails out requesting shipping costs…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA