Popular Woodworking 2002-04 № 127, страница 55
by Christopher Schwarz ones is the care taken to fit the parts into a tool that is easily set up and adjusted. This truly is the "fit" in fit and finish. If a frog doesn't mate well with the body casting, you're in for a world of hurt. The only thing you're going to make is chatter marks. If the sides of the plane aren't ground at 90° to the sole, you'll never be able to shoot an edge that's 90°. And if the sole isn't ground reasonably flat, or if it warps because it wasn't properly stress-relieved, you don't have an inexpensive plane in your hands, you have an expensive anchor for a bass boat. As a result, one of our primary concerns was how all the parts worked together. We checked each sole for flatness by placing a straightedge across the sole and measuring the low spots using a feeler gauge. We checked the flatness of each frog face by flattening them on a diamond-impregnated sharpening stone and checking our progress. We also checked the cutting irons in a similar way by flattening the irons' cutting faces on the diamond stone. At last it was time to cut some wood. After lapping the soles, frogs and irons flat, we set up these planes for use. All of the editors tried the planes on a variety of hardwoods, softwoods and exotics. To test the durability of the iron's edge, we used each plane on an exceedingly nasty piece of purpleheart and then observed the cutting edge to see how dull it had become. RECORD We were dismayed by the poor fit and finish on the test model we purchased. One side wing was poorly ground and the back of the iron was completely and weirdly discolored.The sole was in average shape. However, this plane has got it where it counts. I like the cap that uses a screw instead of a lever to secure the iron assembly, which is the mechanism on all the other planes in our test. The shape of the handles is nice, though the plastic gets slippery after a few minutes of hard use.All the adjustments were smooth, and the Record was easy to get set up and cutting.The fact that there was no frog adjustment screw at the rear makes adjusting the frog a tricky matter, but this function isn't as important as it is on a smoothing plane. If this plane is on your shopping list, we recommend you examine it before you buy, or be ready to send it back to the cataloger if the plane doesn't meet your personal expectations.Available from Garrett Wade at 800-221-2942 or www.garrettwade.com. SHOP FOX The latest entry to the world of jack planes comes from China with an attractive price tag.While this tool has some things going for it (such as an oversized adjustment knob and half-decent blade) it struggled on some other fronts. Most notably, the chip-breaker was entirely too springy and bent the iron when engaged. Once we hammered out a good deal of the spring in the chipbreaker, things started to work better. Like the Stanley 12-205L, the Shop Fox was difficult to tune initially. If the cap iron screw was even slightly overtightened, the blade would refuse to advance or retract. If you loosened the screw, you would quickly run into chatter problems.The handles are painted wood, which is better than plastic, but the front knob was a bit too small for average-sized hands.All in all, we think you might want to wait a bit for the manufacturers to work the bugs out of this one before you buy it. Available from Grizzly at 800-523-4777 or www.grizzly.com. STANLEY TYPE 11 This flea-market special really held its own against its shiny new cousins.We restored four of these vintage planes and found that they all needed as much work as a mid-priced new tool. They also needed a new iron. Spend the extra $30 to buy an aftermarket Hock iron (888-282-5233) or one from another manufacturer.You will be amazed at the difference it makes. Once your plane is set up (expect a long afternoon of work), we think you'll be pleased.The rosewood handles are a pleasure to hold. Iron adjustment is smooth (though we've all found the blade adjustment knob to be a little on the small side). Our only caution in buying one is you have to keep a sharp eye for cracked or rewelded castings, and soles that are warped or bent because they were dropped while in service. If you're a scrounger and are willing to do a little work on your plane, we recommend the Stanley Type 11 as a best buy.Available at flea markets and www.ebay.com. STANLEY 12-205L Stanley makes a "contractor grade" version of this tool with a few more niceties (a frog adjustment screw, brass fittings and more machined areas between the frog and body casting). We've tested that version, too, and if you buy a new Stanley jack plane, it's the one to buy.The 12-205L has a plastic knob for adjusting the iron that's difficult to use; and getting the chip-breaker, lever cap and cap iron screw all working together takes some intense fiddling. If the screw is too loose, the plane will chatter on your work. If the screw is too tight, the iron won't move when you turn the blade adjustment knob. Speaking of that knob, you need to turn it two complete revolutions before it will advance or retract the blade.The contractor version is more on par with the Record in performance and ease of use. If you buy a new English-made Stanley for fine woodworking, spend a few extra dollars to get the upgraded version.Available from Amazon at www.amazon.com. |
