Funny little bull nose plane

[Mike G]

Does anyone have any knowledge of this odd little thing, which a neighbour gave me a month or two ago?

 

[AndyT]

It's the Record version of the Stanley 75.
It's an interesting design. Its only virtue was its cheapness. Here's mine, bought new as a present for me back in the 90s when you could still find one made in Sheffield.



The disadvantages are that it's difficult to adjust and very uncomfortable to use.

They probably appealed to the home user who wanted a rebate plane but couldn't afford a proper one.

There's an Australian version too, branded Patsy iirc.

 

[Mike G]

Thank you Andy. I have to say that it is really poorly made for Record, or else it has been really messed around with. Nothing sits properly. I started removing a big back bevel but stopped when I realised it wasn't there for planing performance but because of the shape of the casting it was sitting on. It seems to rely on tightening the screw just exactly right.

Funny thing.....the chap who gave it to me got it from a friend's estate when they died. My neighbour isn't into woodwork (great metal worker, though), and he kept on saying how sharp this little Record was. Honestly, it could barely cut paper. I don't think non-woodworkers know what "sharp" actually means.

 

[toolsntat]

Yes, Andy has covered it nicely Mike but just to add that sometimes they aren't the best of mating castings.
EDIT, As you have found out.....
I've known them to have steps between nose and rear beds which I'm sure has resulted in much derision from those uninitiated in plane fiddling. Once set up right they'll give a satisfactory shaving followed by the obligatory "blocked" throat.
Cheers, Andy

 

[AndyT]

One possible advantage over a proper bullnose plane is that you can exploit the central screw to fix a long handle on. Alf used to have a picture showing this on her website, scanned from an old Woodworker magazine. I'll see if I can find it, unless she pops up herself. (Hope she does.)

 

[Alf]

Andy, you must have the memory of an elephant. Here 'tis:



Diabolical plane; thrilled never to have owned one.

 

[AndyT]

That's the one!
Thanks Alf.

 

[PAC1]

I own one of its cousin Stanley versions. It lacks the heft of a proper bullnose plane. I think I tried to use it once without much success it has lived in its box ever since.

 

[jimhanna]

The disadvantages are that it's difficult to adjust and very uncomfortable to use.

They probably appealed to the home user who wanted a rebate plane but couldn't afford a proper one.

Quite correct. I bought mine when I didn't know any better. Found it so uncomfortable to use that I
drilled the casting and grafted a wood knob on the rear.

Made it useable and it still lives in my tool cupboard but the only time I would use it is if I thought
I might be planing down towards the point of a nail or screw.

 

[Mike G]

Rightto.......I've spotted something rather fundamental. Mine arrived bevel-up. Jim's is bevel down. Which way up is the iron supposed to sit? If, as I suspect, it's bevel down, then the top of the bevel is the reference point as the damn thing doesn't lie down properly on the frog (by quite some way). That would make sharpening, particularly re-grinding, away from the business end of the iron something of a critical mission.

 

[AndyT]

Bevel down. Same as mine!

Maybe you could shim the gap with sandpaper, card or sticky tape.

 

[Raymedullary]

Very surprised if it's supposed to be bevel down. Up like any other non back iron low angle plane? I have never seen a bullnose with it down.
The bevel has a similar effect to a back iron. Also I think it will work better without any chatter with the bevel up as you'll have a better bedding surface.

 

[AndyT]

It really is designed to be used bevel down, that's another of its oddities. The bed angle is about 45° rather than the usual 20° or so found on a bullnose. And the maker's name on the iron is visible when it's assembled that way up.

 

[jimhanna]

Very surprised if it's supposed to be bevel down. Up like any other non back iron low angle plane? I have never seen a bullnose with it down.

The 75 isn't a low angle plane. The bedding angle is about the normal 45 degrees for a bevel down plane.
Bevel up the cutting angle would be about 75 degrees, more of a scraper plane.

 

[Raymedullary]

Oh ok, if its set at 45 and not low angle then that makes sense.... as in a moulding plane.

 

[novocaine]

I've got two of these. One is mine a new one is my dad's and old. Both are similar quality and work OK for what they are. It's proven useful a few times, like cleaning up let in bits in door frames for new hinges and the such. You have to be quite heavy on the back to stop the nose digging in.

 

[Alf]

And the maker's (name) on the iron is visible when it's assembled.

A handy thing to remember whenever one is in doubt as to bevel orientation. No doubt there are exceptions, but it's a useful rule of thumb.

Although these days modern irons probably demand to be stamped on the edge so they can self identify which way up they want to be...

 

[Mike G]

.......Although these days modern irons probably demand to be stamped on the edge so they can self identify which way up they want to be...

:eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: Oh, I've missed you Alf. :lol:

 

[Eric the Viking]

.......Although these days modern irons probably demand to be stamped on the edge so they can self identify which way up they want to be...

:eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: :eusa-clap: Oh, I've missed you Alf. :lol:

Ditto!