Subject: hand planes

From: BAH <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 08:57:21 -0800

I've been looking to pick up a Record 04 smoothing plane.  I've noticed
that some of them out there have a brass colored knob on the front that
keeps the blade secure while others have a sort of flip-lock thing that
you pull open to release the blade.  Both seem to be about the same
price and both seem to tbe the high end of the Record line.  What if any
is the difference?  Should I care?

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From: "John Hofstad-Parkhill" <[email-masked]>
Date: 29 Mar 1997 04:00:04 GMT

BAH:

> you pull open to release the blade.

I prefer the flip to the knob - by far. As subjective as that observation
can be.

> price and both seem to tbe the high end of the Record line.

High end and Record line used in the same sentence does not work.

>  What if any

In actual use, it's not all that often, so no, you really shouldn't care
that much. It's used to set the tension after replacing the iron after
honing. Once set it's set.

You'd be much farther off (IMO) with a pre-war Stanley #04 and an iron from
Lie-Nielson, or failing that, Ron Hock. A very nice #04 can be found on the
web for about 1/2 what you would pay for a new Record. And chances are
you'll have a much better working unit.

In any case, figure to spend some time on the Record to get it tuned up. I
found that Record does a better job than Stanley U.K. at machining.

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From: Slim Pickens <[email-masked]%>
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 00:26:50 -0600

-- 
ÿWPC¥
I have a Record 04 w/the 'flip-lock thing'....

This plane is wonderful.....although get the grooved soul (worth the
xtra cash)

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From: [email-masked] ()
Date: 30 Mar 1997 02:53:16 GMT

BAH ([email-masked]) wrote:
: I've been looking to pick up a Record 04 smoothing plane.  I've noticed
: that some of them out there have a brass colored knob on the front that
: keeps the blade secure while others have a sort of flip-lock thing that
: you pull open to release the blade.  Both seem to be about the same
: price and both seem to tbe the high end of the Record line.  What if any
: is the difference?  Should I care?

--I have a Record jack plane with the brass knob.  When I opened the box,
  I was kind of ticked off because it wasn't as pictured, nor traditional.

  It turned out that this was a Record cost-cutting production change.
  In practice, it turned out to work well and I actually prefer it.  The
  high-priced Lie-Neilson planes use this, as do cabinet-making planes.
  It's easier to adjust the blade with the brass-knob cap iron because
  you can set the pressure on the blade about half of maximum, then fine
  tune the skew and projection of it.  Afterwards, you simply fully
  tighten the brass knob to lock the setting.  The lever cap doesn't allow
  this.                

  Really, it's a matter of preference.  They both work well.

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From: keevmk <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 23:34:54 -0600

> is the difference?  Should I care?

Instead of the Record have you considered a vintage Stanley?  I have new
English made Bailey Stanley #4, it cuts OK after the usual tuning.  I
also have a 60+ year old Stanley #3c, bought in an antique shop for
$23.00, after tuning it is better than SEX! and even better after the
Hock blade (I'm equally happy with the #5c and the 7c I picked up in the
same manner).  You can probably pick a real nice "old" plane for the
same money & I believe you'd be much happier in the long run.  You can
find several very good dealers at the Electronic Neanderthal - Patrick
Leach is the first one that comes to mind. Just my two cents worth.

Good Luck
Buzz