Axminster/ Faithfull vs Record Irwing vs Stanley "handyman"plane
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- This topic has 8 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 4 months ago by str8tedge.
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Hi!
I’m writing this topic to ask for a litle help.
I read your’s and Paul’s comments about buying old Stanley’s no ebay, 2nd hand, and so on. Here on 2nd hand market, metal plaines are very rare and the wood ones are very expensive because their age 60 years and more.
But living in “Europe’s taile (ass)” – Portugal – my lack of kwnolege to built one, the shiping costs from Uk to here and the taxes from £ to €… I think you get the picture.
Its easy to buy it on amazon (they ship it for free).This weekend I “dig” one plane (very similar to a stanley sb4), at my fathers tools. It had something like 30 years of rust. It was a nice training setting it up and a big step to my block plane… but i decided i’ll get a proper plane!
So, i’m on a budget, obvious, and aiming a entry-level/mid-range.
I read about Faithfull chisels, and a fellow here on the forum told-me about axminster tools brand…So, i’m asking help about:
– a smoothing 4 or 4 1/2 Faithfull, Axminster, Record Irwing, or Stanley “handyman”(around 50€ in a local shop)- (later if this develops nicely i’ll upgrade properly with my wife’s blessing)Thks in advance
16 December 2013 at 8:26 pm #24009I would not touch the Stanley handyman I believe it has plastic adjuster.
You could go with the Axminster , Faithfull , or Irwing just remember you most probably will have to tune them up. A flat sole and sharp Iron is of the most importance if you want to take fine shavings and get a nice finish.From Paul’s previous comments and my own experience, modern Stanley and Record Irwin planes and other inexpensive brands are not generally as good as the Stanley and Record planes from 1960s and earlier. You may get lucky and find one that performs ok with a bit of work, but it’s somewhat hit and miss.
The UK post service (Royal Mail) quotes about 15 Euros for delivery to Portugal, if you could find an accommodating UK seller. You ought to be able to find a reasonable older Stanley #4 for about 25 Euros equivalent on eBay.
The other option might be second hand sales – do you have ‘car boot sales’ in Portugal?
Good luck with your search.
16 December 2013 at 9:40 pm #24012If it is an older Handyman, with all metal parts, it might be worth picking up. I have a number 4 that came in a group of Stanley Baileys. I’d heard they weren’t worth their weight in scrap metal and wasn’t going to use it. However, on a whim, I cleaned it up, flattened the sole, fettled it. Turns out, it performs as well as any of the Baileys I have used.
Furthermore, I did a side by side comparison with a type 13 Stanley Bailey and the only notable difference I could find was that the lateral adjuster is stamped steel with a tang that rides in the blade rather than a lever with a wheel. The knob and tote aren’t quite as refined as they are on the Bailey. The frog and sole are identical and interchangeable.
If you can get it for a reasonable price, i.e. less than a Bailey, I’d say get it.
17 December 2013 at 4:47 pm #24038I have a Stanley #4 Handyman (about 2 years old). The adjuster is virtually unusable so you have to release the cap first, then adjust, then put the plane back together, then re-adjust the blade and hope you got the depth correct.
It’s the worst plane ever and is going in the bin on Christmas day (hopefully).
22 December 2013 at 2:05 pm #24359Be careful with the Stanley planes. I happened to get the Stanley plane (#4] from my deceased uncle and found out that the sidewalls are not perpendicular with the bottom plane. Can you believe it… one sidewall is even 1.5 millimeters oblique! It’s so much I can’t even have it milled.
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