The Slippery Slope #5: A Couple of Union Thugs

They are a good quality plane. I have seen blades that short, time for a new one…. : ^ )

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

I guess 120 years of being in the union will really grind away at you.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

You definitely had me fooled :) good finds.

-- I came, I was conquered, I was born again. ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν

Good find on the planes. I too was looking at an antique mall. No real bargains or anything I would use. I did see barrel maker planes. My guess was to cut the groove for the top and bottoms. They were cool but too expensive for a decoration. I just got it, Union Thugs.

-- Dan I.G.N.

Those are some nice hand planes.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

As far as I understand Union was purchased by stanley. And in later planes,post purchase of union, that stanley made for other companies ie Keen Kutter etc have the Union lateral lever. Unions were made for sometime after the purchase as well. The union lateral has a 90 degree twist at the tip where the stanleys have a tab that is folded to 90 degrees.

-- Got Wood?

Thanks for the info Joe, i like knowing the background behind the tools.

Dan, nothin sneaks by you big guy. ;)

For anyone else here in CT, the antinque shop also had an older #6 bailey in very good shape, id venture to guess it was a type 9.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

I think that blade has seen more work than all my planes combined. It’s either that or someone enjoyed sharpening more than most.
I have seen some old gouges shortened to those standards though.
Nice find.

-- Mel

Mel, id have to agree with you on that one unless the previous owner was planing rocks. Ive never seen an iron ground down that far.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

That iron’s standing tall! I love planes with irons like this, even though I don’t particularly like buying replacement irons. These are very desirable planes to me. I generally like my cap irons devoid of embellishment but if you’re going to do it, do it like Union did. I really like these two thugs. WV is kind of famous for Union thugs, after all.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Ive got a couple of spare irons from some junky planes i have bought in the past so ill probably throw one in the #4. As for the #3 i looked at the iron and its gonna take some serious grinding to get that one back, its totaaly round off, not a candidate for sandpaper in my book.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

You may replace the irons but do not throw out the old one, the plane would be more valuable with the old blade as well! Nice finds.

-- Erwin, Jacksonville, FL

With that short iron you could split it (grind) and make yourself a special plane. Someone here made a plane using an old iron a while back.
Your right, not much gets by me, it just takes a while to pecolate.

-- Dan I.G.N.

I got to work on the #3 tonight and its in amazing shape, japanning at least 95%. The iron needs a ton of work probably a few hours of reshaping. Ive got my grandfathers blood bearpie, no good tool or lumber will go to waste aroumd here.

You nailed it dan, i remember someone making a shoulder plane with a spare iron. Thats what i will do .. Ive got some thin strip purpleheart and a nice chunk of white oak. Now does anyone have some spare time kickin around?

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty