router plane sole
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Welcome! / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Tools and Tool Maintenance/Restoration / router plane sole
I have 2 router planes, one stanley no 71 and one stanley 71 1/2. i want to put a wooden sole on at least one of them. the 71 1/2 has been apparently dropped and broken, but has been welded back together and is reasonably flat with very little rocking. the question is if I make a sole from my half inch thick stock exactly how much bigger do I need to make the sole? or does it just depend upon my personal preferences?
Up to you really.
The wider you get, the more difficult it can be to use in situations where only one side of the router is supported (ie tenons).
If both sides of the router are supported (ie dados/grooves), you’re more or less unlimited.
I put a wooden sole on my router. I don’t think it matters per se. If I had to guess I am likely 1″ to 2″ longer it both width and length. It was mostly dictated by the wood I had laying about. I am happy with the results. Even after honing the steel bottom and removing arris on the edges, I would still get scratches from the steel bottom router on my work pieces. I didn’t like this.
exactly why I was going to add a sole. the 71 1/2 is the one that was broken and welded back. dont want it scratching the wood all up. actually already added it and it glides on the wool a whole lot better than just bare metal.