Really?!

I would be miserable if it was a new plane that happened to work well, but breaking one that old…I’m sure you felt terrible. Sorry to hear about it.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

Bummer. The plane made it from 1918 until 2009, eh? I have been around that long and I’m a bit brittle myself, though I am surprised to see it broken. Not being a physics guy I can’t be sure, but I’d bet that you couldn’t do that if you tried. Chalk it up to a freak of nature.

-- Working at Woodworking www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

Ops>

I guess you didn’t break it by pushing too hard on some extra tough wood.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I’m thinking the old Bailey and Stanley planes are brittle and it is common for them to end there life jumping from work benches.

-- Tim: Remember, if it doesn't say Binford, someone else made it.

The Lie Nielsen Bronze planes are virtually unbreakable. They are a bit more money but one does not need to worry if they accidentally hit a hard floor. Your plane is not the first one to break. Still, it hurts to see a good tool break.

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

I loaned my bedrock jointer plane to a friend and the same thing happened. He was more upset than I was and promptly went out and replaced it with a Stanley Bailey #8. I still have the bedrock and keep it in the shop for a paperweight. Sorry for your loss, salvage what parts you can and scrap the rest.

-- John , Central PA , www.jcsterling.com

Ouch poor plane

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

that’s a plane shame. i guess checking the warranty is out of the question. however, the part are still good, you just need an old body off fleabay to restore.

in other news Timbo said ….it is common for them to end there life jumping from work benches.

Howls, LOL

-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."

naomi weiss,
I am so saddened to learn of your loss. While everyone has a different way of lamenting. I find yours to be hystericaly funny. I do hope that is what you intended with this most informative blog. I’d like to TY for the link to Ole Walts’ site. I do hope that your newer Stanley plane will suffice until you can find a replacement for the broken one.
Please tell me something concerning the origin of the word “Learnt”. While I am still learning to use all the proper wood working terminology, vernacular and jargon I’m suspicious of this word! I am just wondering if it would behoove me to familiarize myself with colloquial english or just accept the fact that- we Ole Southern Boys aint too far afield with our use of the language after all!
I do assume that you’ll conduct last rites in the proper way for that poor plane.
Please keep us posted as to any future catastrophic events encountered along your way. I do hope that you can see the humor intended here.

Sincerely,
Ken McGinnis

-- woodbutcher north carolina

I love LJ! Thanks for all the comments! When i tried to get sympathy from my friends by dramatically producing the front knob of the plane that just read ‘Bailey’, i got some pretty blank looks. They don’t understand us! Thanks for being a great support system, everybody!

-- 'Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots'--Jeremy Taylor

I was really saddened by your tale, but clicking on your link to ba-donka-donk brought a smile to my face. That’s a new one to me!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

ouch, sorry to hear that it happened to a plane with such history. Chris Schwarz of popular woodworking did a metallogy test on older and newer planes, and indeed older planes use brittle metal that just breaks if gets hit hard enough.

RIP plane… RIP.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.