Stanley No 50 Combination Plane
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24 May 2017 at 8:59 am #312211
Hi,
I am planning to buy a stanley no 50 combination plane. The one I am looking at has the Cutter Holding Screw and the Chip Deflector missing. Everything else seems to be present. From what I could make out from the manual the Cutter Holding Screw is required for only 1/8″ & 3/16″ ploughing. Also this being a screw I might be able to find (not sure though) some other screw which would do the job. The chip deflector looks like much more difficult and I can’t think of any easy way to a workable solution. My questions are –
1. How important is the chip deflector for functioning of the plane?
2. Should I at all look at buying without those parts?
3. What should be a reasonable price for a plane without those parts but otherwise in good condition?Regards,
DinabandhuFirst, we don’t know where you are, so answering a question on value is difficult.
This plane went through lots of iterations, depending on when it was made and where.
The British version sometimes offered the deflector and screw (needed for 1/8” and 3/16” cutters) as an extra; they were packed separately in a small brown envelope and Stanley UK sometimes offered an extended cutter range as well. You need to ascertain its age and do some research as to what is original and complete and what is not. Having said that, these were ‘trophy’ tools when new. Often bought as presents or on impulse then left in the cupboard, consequently good, virtually unused versions from the 50s and 60s are not rare in the UK.
An incomplete version, although usable, may not be as valuable as a complete one when you decide it is time to move it on.The screw thread is an obscure obsolete BSF or Whitworth tread; the Americans used a type of Unified thread. But, When you sort the correct thread out you will discover that the most important and unique part of this screw is the size and shape of the underside of the head the shape of which which is specifically designed to grip the side of the cutter in two places. Unique is the word.
Personally, I have never used the smaller blades – there are better tools than a No: 50 for these sizes. The chip deflector is another thing that remains in its packet. With or without the deflector, these planes are renowned for choking on everything but the straightest and most compliant-grained woods..
However – and this is a personal view – if I had the choice between a complete, mint and unused Stanley No: 50 and a Complete Record 050, I’d grab the Record every time. Better tool hands-down.
25 May 2017 at 8:35 pm #312343Hi Joyner,
Thanks a lot for the detail response. I really appreciate it.
I should have mentioned it earlier. I am looking at buying in UK(ebay). The piece I was looking at had 17 cutters so must be a later model. Unfortunately that is already sold.
I was not looking at record because I didn’t know much about it though I have read elsewhere that those are good. After your reply, I searched on net and found the manual from cornish workshop. So, now at least I can determine if a particular piece is complete or not. I will certainly try and see if I can find one at a good price. It would be very good if you can give some indication as to a reasonable price in uk. I am not looking at mint condition but something that has all parts/cutters and can be resorted (by myself) to a full working condition.
Thanks again for your help.
2 December 2017 at 11:04 pm #391795i just bought the stanley no. 50 and it was missing the cutter hold down screw.. i just went to the hardware store and pick up a bolt with a flat underside head on it and a wing nut and it works just fine… i was still unsure if i was still missing something since it was such an easy fix so i kept an eye out for the correct screw and bought it…. that was completely unnecessary… the sliding fence isn’t attached when using the smaller beading cutters so there is no restrictions as far as the size of the bolt head…
fyi the beading gauge is only used with the larger cutters so the sliding section is used and so the cutter hold down screw isn’t a factor… it took me some time to figure this out…
i love this little plane mine took some time to clean off the rust and re-sharpen but not it works great…
hope this helps…Hello guys,
I have just bought my Stanley N0. 50 on ebay UK. I made a direct offer, not a bid, for 70 GBP and the distributor accepted it.
It has all the pieces, including 17 cutters, shaving deflector and narrow cutters adjusting screw. It also has some marks on the rosewood handle and a lot of rust.
I want to know if there is some product that can clean off the dirt.
At home there is some “autosol” and vinager. If you could give me some piece of advice…
Thanks in advance,Luis
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I received the plane without the original box, just a normal cardboard box plus some bubble paper that protects it.
The cutters are sharpened and work fine. I have tried cutting beads, rebates and ploughs.
So I’ll keep the tool.
I was wondering if any of you have built your own toolbox ( on plywood, pine, …) with hinges and latch. I had thought about putting a box of wine with some adjustments.
Some plane or photo would be welcome.Thanks again,
Luis
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You must be logged in to view attached files.3 January 2018 at 2:56 pm #427209the one i just bought was also pretty dirty and rusted so i started out by soaking them in Rockler Pitch & Resin Remover for about an hour then i hit them with steel wool 0000 and 150-220 grit sandpaper… everything cleaned up very nicely… i hope this helps
Wine boxes are sometimes like cigar-boxes; flimsy wood with weak joints – intended for short-term use only. You’ll need to judge whether yours are suitable for modifying for your purpose.
Why start with a Wine Box? You now have the right plane to make whatever design you choose and from any wood you want. Check out the Gallery section here for Dovetail Boxes, and online for images of fitted boxes for combination planes. Here’s one for a Record 044, which is similar to yours.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.26 January 2018 at 4:27 pm #452464Hey All,
It sounds like the original question was answered, however, I would like to put in my two cents. I bought the Record 050 on eBay(US) with all the cutters, manual, box, etc. a while back. Aside from having to sharpen all straight blades and beading cutters I found that the most troublesome thing for me to find/make is the nicker. The 050 I got was from the 1940s and, not surprisingly, the nicker is not up to snuff. Does anyone have a suggestion on where/how I could replace this important part?PR
p.s. I also had to smooth out a bottom rail as it had a knick taken out that would catch when I ran it along a piece of wood.25 September 2018 at 12:59 pm #313183Hi Dinabandhu,
If you haven’t already acquired one, here’s my experience. I bought a Stanley No. 50 about 6 weeks ago off eBay. I’d have to agree with @HowardinWales that these were probably trophy tools when new, as most of the ones I’ve looked at are still boxed, complete and in excellent condition. The ones that have seen real action seem to have pieces missing. Unfortunately some of the parts are pretty important to the plane working properly.
As Howard said the cutter holding screw is both an unusual thread and has a knurled head to allow you to adjust it, and I suspect would be very difficult to find a replacement for. Without it you can’t use the 2 narrowest cutters. From my limited usage of the plane so far, it works just as well with or without the shaving deflector.
The parts that I think are very important are the cutting spurs, which are both tiny and have even smaller screws. They really help starting a cut and keeping the plane on track. They are meant for going across the grain, but think they make going with the grain easier too.
The No. 50 I sourced is immaculate, the only thing missing was the instructions (which I downloaded from the web). For something that had ended production in the UK in 1962, both the box and it’s content look like it has just come straight from the factory. Only a couple of the cutters had been used, and a couple of screws had a smidgen of rust that just rubbed off with a kitchen scouring pad. The cutters looked a bit mucky/rusty but this turned out to be the greasy waxy coating that Stanley had covered them in.
In terms of pricing, I won mine at £55 including the postage. Buy-it now options start at £75 and go up into silly 3 digit territory. I think you should be able to pick up a tidy complete one for about £55 to £75. The thing to remember is that the No 50s only came with the straight cutters, and the beading cutters were optional extras. There are lots of No. 50’s out there so I would be patient until you can find a complete one for a reasonable price.
I was offered a Record 050 at my local car boot sale last week and even though it had it’s original box, it had to many parts missing to make it worthwhile.
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