Record No. 44 Plough Plane – Long Arms

I have made long arms for an 043 and an 044 by cutting the shafts of long shank spade bits . You can get both long rods from a 16” or 20” bit. With the longer bit, you probably still have a working bit left over.

They usually cost under $10 USD , so even if you have to buy a new bit it’s probably cheaper to just go to a hardware store and pick up a bit than to order rod from a steel supplier online. The steel is pretty good, but still cuts fine with a hacksaw and files.

Different size bits have different diameter shafts, so I advise you take your plane to the store for proper sizing. I can’t remember what size I used, but dim memory says something like a 3;4 or 7/8 bit.

I was fortunate to have used up bits to scrap, so they were free for me. We used a lot of long shank bits when I worked.
The drill bit actually sized better in the fence holes than the factory rods. The picture is of an 043 with home made rods. The bit is what i think fits an 044.
You will have to verify. Sometimes the rod diameters are different even for the same diameter bit.

Used tool places often have bins of old bits they sell for a buck a piece or so. It’s more cleanup, though. And you can sand off a little by chucking the rod in a drill and sanding. Then Polish with 600 grit.

Sizing to your plane is a good idea because the rods that come with the planes changed over time, especially in the early metric years. 043 rods are sometimes 7mm and sometimes 9/32”. 044 rods hover in the 3/8” – 25/64”-10mm range, and the holes can also vary over time. It’s probably whatever they could get.

That’s probably why my rods fit better than the factory ones.