1/3 scale #1 Stanley Plane

Peter McBride		Antique and Old Tools
Updated :- Thursday, 08 November 2007	home \| antique and old tools \| links \| email TOOL MAKING PAGE		click on the images for a larger picture
Miniature Stanley #1 - 1/3 scale
For years I've wanted to make a gold or silver #1 Stanley plane. The most complicated part would be the frog, so that's where to start. I carved it in wax until I was happy with the shape, and then when that is cast into silver I will complete it ready for moulding in rubber. I find some work is more controllable in metal rather than wax, so I make the basic shape in wax, and refine it in metal with tools I'm more comfortable with. Once I have a mould multiples could be made in whichever metal I choose, bronze, gold ( 18ct, 14ct, 9ct, yellow, white or red) and maybe even platinum.

Next complication is the left hand thread for the depth adjuster. By chance I discovered I had a LH screw plate amongst a Watchmakers tool kit I have. So to make a tap I took a broken needle file handle and turned it down in my watchmaker's lathe, and ran it into the screw plate. After hardening and tempering, it cuts brass very well. So I turned up the adjuster in brass as a prototype, and just ran a nail into the screw plate for a post. These will be made in yellow and white gold for the plane. I'm very pleased with this, I can flick it and it spins freely for the full length of the threaded post.


The frog is back from the caster, so I used my jeweller's saw, files, gravers and suspension drill with drill bits and grinding burs to finish the details. Almost ready to go back to be moulded in rubber.

Next installment will be the base....coming soon.