Milbro plane information

Metal totes? That’s a cool little plane. The flip lock on the lever cap looks a little different than the Stanleys. This is really intriguing. It’s the first I’ve heard of this brand.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

its in the evapo-rust as we speak. I need to fly on Saturday morning, so I’m hoping to get it restored before that. I’m not all that optimistic though. The metal is strange to me. I expected this plane to be light like the aluminum Stanley’s, but it’s not at all. I’m stumped.

-- http://timetestedtools.net - Collecting is an investment in the past, and the future.

Try a magnet on it yet ?
As in on the body ? I see you checked the tote and knob that way. Seems to me I have some carving chisels that are the same brand, but I think they were Spanish in origin.

-- Glen, B.C. Canada

Yes, a magnet does NOT stick on the body.

-- http://timetestedtools.net - Collecting is an investment in the past, and the future.

I guess it’s some kind of alloy. I don’t know anything about metallurgy but perhaps it IS aluminum alloy, just with more of the heavy stuff. I’m sure someone knows. It’s cool, anyhow.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Be interesting as well to see what happens in the evaporust..

-- Glen, B.C. Canada

I did some looking on the internet as well. I saw quite a few for sale, but no company info.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

^imagine his surprise, Glen, if it was GONE! Evaporated!

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Better than emasculated tho..
;-}

-- Glen, B.C. Canada

So after clean up.

I was again disappointed during the restore. Certain things like the lateral lever adjustment is plastic. With the “aluminum like” sole, it definitely wouldn’t be an every day user, I think it would wear quickly. The knob was made in 3 pieces, so polishing it was a pain(at one point I thought about painting the stupid thing). The tote didn’t like to seat properly going back on. At one point I almost threw it aside.

I was however pleasantly surprised when I tested it. It handles extremely nice. It seem to “smooth” really well. Holding it seems awkward and out of balance until its on the wood. Then it seems to know what its suppose to do. So it has won itself a test period. I’ll hang it beside the rest, and see how it goes.

Good points
It didn’t evaporate in the evapo-rust.
The aluminum like handle and knob is cool. (not as cool as rosewood, but different).
It polishes shiny. Shiny distracts certain people.
It seems to work extremely well (much to my pleasant surprise).

So here are the bad points:
Its made from an aluminum like metal, so it dings and scratches (and will wear) faster than a “normal” plane.
The cap iron is made of the same material, so I had to “spring” it back to hold the iron.
It polishes shiny. Shiny distracts certain people. (me)
It makes my 6th #4.

-- http://timetestedtools.net - Collecting is an investment in the past, and the future.

Hard to argue with those shavings, though! We’ll see how straight they are after a few more of those “blues”, you rascals. :)

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

But shiny is pretty ! Don that’s a great addition to any plane collection, a looker and a doer.
You might try AutoSol on it, it’s a German made metal polish generaly sold in auto suply stores although Lee Valley has now added it as well. I used it on the aluminum window frames on my travel trailer at least 10 years ago. And after that amount of time on the road and siting through hot summers and freezing winters they’re still shiny ..

-- Glen, B.C. Canada

I use Autosol on my Tormek’s leather strop. It’s good stuff.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Autosol. Thanks. I’ll pick some up.

-- http://timetestedtools.net - Collecting is an investment in the past, and the future.

I heard (and maybe wrong) that these were made in here in England just after the war, from the surplus alloy.
Guessing they didn’t make too many of them.