Bailey no. 5 bench plane troubles
Welcome! / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Tools and Tool Maintenance/Restoration / Bailey no. 5 bench plane troubles
- This topic has 12 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 4 months ago by Carlos J. Collazo.
-
AuthorPosts
-
27 December 2013 at 7:16 pm #24645
Hello everyone,
I am starting out with the bench plane, never having used one
before. I’d like to start building my workbench to get on with the projects. Following Paul’s guidance on Youtube and elsewhere, the sharpening,
I believe, I did get right. However, my troubles started when I went to assemble the plane again. When I turn the adjustment wheel either to the left
or right, the cutter neither retracts nor protrudes out.The cap iron and cutting iron assembly is set up correctly, as far as I know, with a 1/16″ separation between the two at the edges.
I just don’t know what adjustment I missed that causes the adjustment wheel to not move the cutter.
Your guidance and wisdom is really appreciated !
Thanks!
Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Carlos
27 December 2013 at 8:11 pm #24648This image might be of use also…
http://autonopedia.org/wp-content/uploads/crafts-and-technology/tools/Planes-6.jpg27 December 2013 at 8:31 pm #24650Hi Carlos
I would take out the blade cap iron and lever cap and then turn adjusting wheel and see if the lever that fits into the slot in the cap iron moves up and down. if it does ensure it is sitting in the cap iron slot when assembled.Carlos,
I think Dave is on the right track, it sounds like the “Y” adjusting lever (See Greg’s illustration) is not engaging or is not seated properly in the cap iron slot.
Here’s a great site for identification and history of Stanley/Bailey planes.
Joe B.
28 December 2013 at 12:29 am #24659Greg, Dave, Joe, Jay – What a forum this is! Thanks a bunch for your quick help! I will try the Y adjusting lever. Didn’t know that was even something to check for…I will try to put up a pic a little later today.
C
28 December 2013 at 1:28 am #24662Well, I just now picked up the plane again to take some pics and give the Y lever a closer look when I decided to loosen the lever cap screw a LOT more than where I had had it. The adjustment wheel now does move the cutter!
I did remember when Paul said that the tightness of the lever cap screw should be just at the point where the lever cap snaps back by itself. I guess it just came down to practice. The plane does seem to work now and took a few shavings, though I need to get some C clamps and scraps to really try it out on the dining room table until I get my workbench built.
Here are a few pics with what I think is the plane correctly set up. Any input or suggestions if you see something amiss are very welcome, or if additional photos would be useful
Best,
Caros
Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files.28 December 2013 at 2:55 am #24680Thank you Joe for your response and kind words. I hope and expect to be planing away soon! Thanks to you and everyone else the mystery of this piece of technology is little by little clearing up. Still, I know this is just the start and there will be more puzzlement ahead.
Joe, the iron is set a little deep, but I think the photo exaggerated it a bit. I tried to set it for a more or less shallow cut. My goal for now is to get the legs built. For this I know I need to remove the surface snipe left by the machines so the surfaces can mate and be glued up well. I will proceed to set the cutter to a shallow cut. I hope the dining table works out. I don’t feel comfortable using it as I can just see it becoming a rickety mess under the weight of all the laminations and pushing of the plane. I may make a pair of saw horses instead like Paul used in his Youtube workbench vids.
Thanks again for your help!
Carlos
28 December 2013 at 7:54 pm #24715Carlos you should set the blade so it is not cutting at all and then on a narrow piece of scrap wood keep advancing the blade till it takes a fine cut on one side of the blade then try the others side of the blade if the cut is heavier move the literal adjustment lever towards the side giving the heaviest cut , keep adjusting till both sides of the blade are producing shavings of equal thickness. You can then move to the part you are wanting to plane and advance the blade out to give the depth of cut required.
29 December 2013 at 5:35 am #24743Jay, David — Thanks for your good advice on how to best begin. I do need to play with it a bit to get the settings right. David, I will definitely try your suggestions for beginning to plane and the use of scrap wood first, easing the cutting iron out, using the lateral adjustment lever,
and then moving on to the “good” wood – the wood I want to plane.
All great advice and I thank you greatly for exponentially increasing my
confidence as I press forward in my quest to plane!Thanks again, friends!
Good night. Til next time!
Need to get to bed early so I can get up early and see if I can locate the right size MDF board to cover my dining room table with.
Carlos
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.