I’ve never seen a 39 before, much less owned one. But a 39- 3/8” just came up for sale locally. I kinda like the idea of a graduated set of 39s, but really I’m sure I’d only ever use the 1/4” and 3/4”. So… is it worth owning a set, where they’d be used primarily in cross-grain dadoes such as in a bookcase? I just want to get away from routers or TS dadoes for this purpose, and the 45’s don’t work right for me for this, unless I’m machining close to an edge, with the grain. I like the idea of the knickers on either side. I like how they can be used flush up against a straightedge for guidance. Was this a hit with users, or another one of Stanley’s duds? Is there anything comparable on the market that is new, as an alternative? Thanks for your comments!
-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!
-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!
Thanks, Don! Perhaps I should have presented the question differently: I want to cut my cross-grain dadoes by hand, and I’m trying to find the right plane to get the job done. I prefer nickers on either side of the cut line, and depth stops that are adjustable. I see various #39s on eBay all the time, in every width from 1/4” to 1”...but they’re $150-$200 each! I’d spring for an entire set, one width at a time if necessary, but if they are generally difficult to work with OR, there’s something better, I’d like to know. What are all you galoots using?
-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!
I once used my #45 to make a 3/4” dado cross grain, and made a video of it. It worked pretty well, but I had some blow out at the end (my fault, for not doing anything to prevent it) but… it was also in poplar. I’m not sure how it would work in anything else, as I haven’t tried. Look at/for a #46 perhaps?
There’s also saw, chisel, and #71 too…
-- Mos - Twin Cities, MN -- Stanley #45 Evangelist - www.youtube.com/MosquitoMods
hey PK, I think the 39’s are cool plane, but I don’t know if I’d hunt out a whole set, maybe just the pair you mentioned. Patrick Leach mentions the 46 as being more versatile (and cheaper) if you’re going to cut dados of many differing widths.
I have a few of the wooden predecessors to the 39s, and they work like a champ. You can find the wooden versions of these planes for cheap, and since they are straight irons, its a relatively quick restore. True the bottoms, clean up the rabbet (that the depth stop sits in) hone the tips of the two pronged nicker and the blade, and you’re off. For whatever reason, I’ve been lucky and haven’t had any issues with the seating of the blade or wedge on the ones I’ve acquired.
If you wait for a common/no-named one to pop up on ebay, you can grab it for around 10-20 bucks to see if you like the feel of them. If you do like em, you’ll know the 39s would be a good fit for you, if you don’t – you’re out a couple lunches instead of a steak dinner. Of course, I am biased – I love the look of the old beech woodies :)
Good luck with your rust hunting, Chris
-- Chris @ Atlanta - JGM - Occam's razor tells us that when you hear hoofs, think horses not zebras.
Hey, Joe… Well.. I dislike Harbour Freight for a number of reasons… but I understand some people convert them into #40-style scrub planes. I wonder why you’re on your 4th one? If you’re happy with it, fine, but I’d NEVER recommend HF to people I care about. Mosquito: I’ve looked for your video, do you have a link? Maybe I saw it and just didn’t realize it was you. Had a good laff over that one #39 video, the dado was soo ragged. ITNerd: Great suggestion! I have dozens of wooden molding planes, just that none of them are dado planes. I’m not seeing any like I have in mind on eBay either… I’ll keep an eye out. This whole thing is about trying to avoid putting good money after bad, investing in a set of either that I ultimately won’t be happy with. Thanks to ALL for your kind replys! Right now I’m thinking about a chisel plane made from 2 trapezoidal bars of 1/4” 6061 aluminum plate, with a side-bar of one thicker piece. I got projects waiting!
-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!
The focus isn’t very good because it was trying to auto focus the whole time. I also didn’t have the skates properly aligned, so once the dado got deeper it started to stick (which I adjusted part way through)
-- Mos - Twin Cities, MN -- Stanley #45 Evangelist - www.youtube.com/MosquitoMods
I have the complets set of 39’s to include the last on the 39.1 which is the 1”
They work like a charm, however, alot of them are missing the spurs on the sides and you really do need them to make sure the wood is scored before it is cut.
See my new 39 on handplanes of your dreams
I also have a DVD which is loaned out that I can loan to you when I get it back.
Arlin
-- It is always the right time, to do the right thing. Lovinghandsmemoryboxs.com
Mosquito: Great video, I’m going to try this. Was there a reason why you used thin stock for your fence? My 45s just don’t come out of the box often enough…this just might be my answer! Thanks! Arlin: Wow, that’s like 11 planes! I think I’ll get my hands on a 39 and see what it will do. Arlin, you must have some awesome menagerie of planes now! Has anyone hinted for a shop pic?
-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!
Hey, Joe… Well.. I dislike Harbour Freight for a number of reasons… but I understand some people convert them into #40-style scrub planes. I wonder why you’re on your 4th one? If you’re happy with it, fine, but I’d NEVER recommend HF to people I care about.
There are some things I will not buy from HF… but not 100%...
Actually, when I saw the recent picture & on Sale, I really didn’t think it was the same as I had… so I bought one… ended up to be the same as I had… LOL
These are not Junk planes… I was surprised & very much impressed…
I used thin stock, because of the depth I was cutting. Where the body overhangs the skate, it would hit the higher stock. I tried it with a 3/4” piece, and I ended up bottoming out on it before I hit the depth stop on a 3/8” deep dado. The 1/4” stock was the closest thing that wasn’t 3/4” so I used that. The other issue, is to make sure it’s wide enough that the plane doesn’t hit the clamps used to hold the guide in place.
-- Mos - Twin Cities, MN -- Stanley #45 Evangelist - www.youtube.com/MosquitoMods
PK, my take on #39 planes: I’m fascinated by them, they’re expensive, and they for working to dimensions.
The $ side is obvious. That I’m in love with the idea of a dado plane is because I use the joint alot, and chiseling them out (cleaning up with a router plane) is somewhat tedious work. I tried a new method this weekend though that just may be the ticket I’ve been looking to punch.
But last is the dimensions statement. I work almost exclusively with weird material (salvaged mostly, but also roughcut) that isn’t to a ready dimension. It gets worked with hand tools until ready, then off it goes. Well, if I’m slave to a 5/8” dado (for example), I either need to taper the edges of my shelf piece OR work the stuff ‘til it’s a uniform thickness. Yuck. So for now, no #39s for me.
-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive
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