Stanley Defiance Smoothing Plane

Looks good, Dadoo! Those handles really sing after the refurb. I’m curious about the little piece of wood(?). Was it a shim for the tote? That lateral adjustment lever is definitely different. Is the plane marked “Defiant” on the lever cap?

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Nice job. For $5 this was a real diamond in the rough!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I have recently started to buy some European wooden hand planes from German Ebay the germans are very friendly and helpful if you ever wan t to try this.Or I will help you with any translation if I can .You can get some good bargains but stanly for metal planes is hard to beat. Don’t you think that doing up some old iron wether it be hand planes or old machinery is great fun? I love to prove others wrong and often bring an old machine back to good health Good luck huys love to read your posts Alistair excuse my typing

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Great find and restoration.

-- Bruce from Central New York

very cool. a nice plane for 5 bucks too! old planes are such a great deal. thanks for the post.

I just found an old Dunlap plane at my grandparents house that looks exactly like that one.

Nice job on the restoration

-- Glenn, New Mexico

Good restoration – picture 1 is just great.

Dado;

Sweeeeet!!!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Thanx guys for the compliments. Restoring old tools is always fun for me, and it saves booku bucks as well. One of my next restorations will be to a 1948 Shopsmith 10E. I want it for the lathe.

That piece of vinyl shim was under the tote…last owners attempts at tightening it up. I just wirebrushed the threads good and tossed that shim out.

Doug, the “Defiance” name only appears on the blade top. Says Defiance…Made in USA. The only other markings are on the toe (behind the knob) and say Made in USA. I’m figureing that maybe this was one of the first ones issued as the rest have model numbers, etc. Or…maybe it’s one of those Frankenstein models…don’t look like it though. I’d appreciate any further info or links you guys might have.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

I have that plane as well – bought it in the local flea market for, I think $12.00. Mine appears to be exactly the same, and it does say Defiance on the iron, other than that, it only says “Made in USA” in the casting. I mean it is the same right down to the reddish finish on the tote and knob. I fettled it and cleaned it all up and gave it a good sharpening and WOW!

It is one nice plane! In fact I find that I reach for it before the Bailey #3 or #4 it sits next to on the shelf, it is a real pleasure to use and I bet you will find the same from yours. Happy planing!

Chris

-- So Much Wood - So Little Time! --

Yeah, the first board I tested it on was a piece of poplar. It cut so smooth and quick it made me think it was balsa wood!

This got me to thinkin’...I’ve got some of that old growth 100y/o maple…I wonder.

Yep! Took a little extra zip but it cuts like butter! Even thru the knot! KEWL!

Now I gotta build one of those special shelves just for planes right?

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Great job on the restore buddy. Looks beautiful.

-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"

Very nice restoration, and only $5.00: nice score!

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

This is really exciting to hear your story I recently purchase a Bailey Ap. 1910 #4 C for only 10.00 dollars I spent roughly 3 hour on surface rust and a waterstone sharping and WOW this thing performed like my Lie Neilson #4 . I hate sanding and just love planing what a thrill. Congrat on your find will have to post my find very soon…Blkcherry

An excellent work on restoration. Your pictures show the condition of the plane before and after restoration.
I admire your patience to make the plane look new.
Sharad

-- patanjali

beautiful job!

I have 2 recently acquired antique smoothers that I need to restore too.

-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.

Yes! Defiance! I have this same plane, neighbor gave it to me. After a good cleaning/tuning it is quite preferable to my Millers Falls No9 (stanley No4 competitor). For less than the price of a Stanley 604 you could have two of these, one set fine and one set coarse, with nice thick replacement blades to boot. Congrats!

Nice work!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I recently purchased a plane from a fleamarket that I think is this same model. I’ll add it to my blog on here when I get the chance as I am restoring it. The only things that are different is the iron only says Made in the USA and not Stanley Defiance and the mark on the cap is a U, all the rest is pretty much the same in looks and markings. Hope mine turns out as well as yours.

those rosewood handles are spectacular

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

great job

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon