Sad to say but some how my No. 5 has a hairline crack in the side behind the adjustment knob. No idea how/when. I was working an Ironwood (Hophornbeam) log and noticed it. This one is my go to. It a 1950's? vintage? Thick casting, plastic handles, made in USA.
Oh well - It will still work for a while then
I'll have to dig out and tune up over of the other ones.
I know the feeling. A dear friend gave her Dad's hand planes after his death. He was a really great stand up kinda guy. Of the three planes 2 aren't worth the time to restore. I started on the #5 with intentions of making it one of my daily users. After soaking it in evaporust I found a huge arched crack, heartbreaking. It's a type 13, sadly it's headed to recycle.
Sucks! Old timer gave me his treasured old #7 and I found the crack as soon as I started to flatten the base.
Lots of parts on E-bay and maybe find an better base (and some wood knobs/handle)
That is my hope. It had to have been cracked for quite a while and only noticed because I oiled it. I'll def use it until it breaks. Then I'll bow my head for a moment at the loss of another old workhorse and then move on.
I find it interesting how we get attached to our tools and it seems planes especially. My main #5 has a replacement lever cap because the original didnt survive an impact with the concrete floor. Took me awhile to get used to it being "different".
My other #5 has a some deep pitting on the tail end of the body so it got relegated to shooting board duty and is probably the finest tuned plane i own. It may be ugly as sin but i wouldnt trade it for anything.
Maybe we get so attached because each one has its own personality. My go to smoother is a Type 18 #4. I have others, including a Bedrock 604, that should be "better" but i know the Type 18 so well it never gives me fits.
Its always a sad day when one of your favorites has an accident or in your case just starts showing its signs of age. I hope it gives you many more years of solid use.
I like ugly but good tools. Keep using it until it doesn't work.
Here is one of my favorites, that was thrown in as an extra with another plane.
Besides a big chunk out of the cheek, it also has a completely wrong tote on it. It looks like they bought a tote for a no 4 and drilled a hole in the toe of it. That doesn't show in this photo.
Funny you should say that but I have adopted that attitude in recent years. No point in "saving" stuff. Just use it and use it up. So this one's still a user and will be on my bench until there are two halves ;-)
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