Zip mini-plane

[Mike G]

Well, this is new to me. Does anyone have any background? Obviously I have enough tools already, so won't be buying one of these, but I'm just curious as to the why and when of this odd looking thing.

 

[Pete Maddex]

I beleve they where used on balsa wood, a rasor blade for a blade.

Shame the side rebate has the handle broken off, probbaly still usable.

Pete

 

[AJB Temple]

Well, if it's the same as the one I have from when I was a kid, it's for making models and you can put razor blades in them. Works on balsa and sapele spar wood etc.

Edit - crossed with Pete. Yes. I agree!

 

[Mr P]

I remember seeing them demonstrated at wood working shows back in the late 90's.

 

[Malc2098]

Yes, I've got one similar from when I was a teenager making model airplanes.

 

[AndyT]

Mike, are you just trying to find out who's got the oddest plane collection?!

Here's something similar from a box near me at the moment. It's a similar size alloy casting. It sort of works with a Stanley knife blade in the shaped space for it.

Screws on either side suggest it may once have had a depth stop and fence, but they are missing of course.

But if anyone here can come up with a convincing list of seven different uses for it, you can have it with my best wishes!





[30 minutes of fiddling later - extra photo to prove it works!]

 

[Mike G]

Mike, are you just trying to find out who's got the oddest plane collection?!

We all know the answer to that already, Andy.

 

[Tiresias]

Ha, I thought I had one of that type. Found it at the weekend. Part of an enormous stack of stuff I got from my partner’s father when he died. I’m cleaning them up as and when I get the time. As you can see this one hasn’t had any attention.



It uses razor blade type cutters, and these can be fixed in three positions, one sort of conventional, one right at the front, and one on a convex surface at the back. I have never tried to use it, but my partner’s father used it for his r/c model planes. I can’t imagine it would be up to anything other than the lightest of duties.

 

[Malc2098]

Ha, I thought I had one of that type. Found it at the weekend. Part of an enormous stack of stuff I got from my partner’s father when he died. I’m cleaning them up as and when I get the time. As you can see this one hasn’t had any attention.

View attachment 29555

It uses razor blade type cutters, and these can be fixed in three positions, one sort of conventional, one right at the front, and one on a convex surface at the back. I have never tried to use it, but my partner’s father used it for his r/c model planes. I can’t imagine it would be up to anything other than the lightest of duties.

Same as mine.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Good educational stuff. Like it.

Mind you, it still doesn't throw any light on the paradox that...a self-confessed "got enough of tools/ dont need any more" person posts an eBay photae of as esoteric a plane as one is likely to encounter...WHAT one wonders was the search string (and motivation) behind THAT phenomenon?

Sam, just off to sand his wooden spoon a bit....

 

[Mike G]

Good educational stuff. Like it.

Mind you, it still doesn't throw any light on the paradox that...a self-confessed "got enough of tools/ dont need any more" person posts an eBay photae of as esoteric a plane as one is likely to encounter...WHAT one wonders was the search string (and motivation) behind THAT phenomenon?

Sam, just off to sand his wooden spoon a bit....

I have an open Ebay search (with notifications) for "job lot tools" for two reasons. I want a replacement blade for my home-made router plane, and, more pressingly, I am buying bits and pieces for my son in law as he sets up his first workshop.

 

[AJB Temple]

Why not post a list here of what you need Mike. Most of us have tools everywhere!

 

[Mike G]

Why not post a list here of what you need Mike. Most of us have tools everywhere!

Too late, Adrian. I'm off tomorrow, with a hold bag full of tools.