Stanley 118

I had never actually seen on of these before, so when I spotted it in a local antique shop I grabbed it. I love this plane, not because it’s a good one to use, but because of its description in the catalogs – it was advertised as being “boy proof.” The plane was designed for use in “manual training and rough work” (i.e, shop work). It has a pressed steel bottom, and has only three separate parts to it – the cap, the bottom, and the cutter. All screws are captive to the plane. There are two circular cutouts, one on each side of the plane, that are a cheap substitute for the Handy grip, found on the better block planes. The plane is finished with a thin black paint, which often is found peeling (as in this case). The embossing at the toe, both “STANLEY” and “No. 118”, is clear. The exterior is machined, and the screws are nickel plated. The iron is “scary sharp”. I assume this is an earlier model since no identifying marks are stamped into the left side of the plane. The cutter is pitched at 12 degrees, and is adjustable by an end screw. There is no adjustable mouth on this plane. This plane is also described as “a piece of junk when compared to the other low angle block planes” but I like it and plan to leave it just as it is!

-- PPBart