Early Access Video: Super-Tune a Stanley 12-404
Added 2019-03-03 00:55:49 +0000 UTCFriends:
Sometimes you've got to get back to your roots. My roots are cheap tools and it doesn't get any cheaper than the Stanley 12-404. This bargain-basement plane has no frog, no cap-iron and the most ridiculous adjustment mechanism that I have ever seen.
But it only costs $20, so tally-ho, y'all!
I got one of these and set out to tune it up as good as it could possibly be. I flattened it, ground it, honed it, and modified it. How'd it turn out?
Kind of not bad.
Don't believe me? Watch the video.
--Rex
Comments
If you're low on dough, any plane you get is going to need this much effort. A vintage stanley will be the same. If you can't go Premium (and who can afford that?) then you're just looking at a lengthy restoration. Sorry to say.
Rex Krueger
2019-03-29 22:47:58 +0000 UTCI don't have much money for a plane, but I think I'll pass on this one. Looks like too much work to be worth it. I would love it if you would review one of Grizzly's affordable planes. I just don't know what to buy!
Drew Nelson
2019-03-29 00:25:19 +0000 UTCGood video as usual, looking forward to the bench build.
Chris Evans
2019-03-04 16:20:34 +0000 UTCMan, that's a high compliment!
Rex Krueger
2019-03-04 11:25:52 +0000 UTCI believe (imho) that you need to condense when you can, and elaborate when necessary. This topic was the latter. Your channel is the only one i have found that truly keeps the "average joe" in mind when it comes to woodworking.
Josh Miller
2019-03-04 05:16:46 +0000 UTCAmen to that. I didn't even have to cover the chip-breaker in this video. Whole other can of worms.
Rex Krueger
2019-03-03 21:26:58 +0000 UTCThe first one is hard no matter what you have read even if the instructions are perfect. You have to actually learn how to cut parallel bevals, how to hone, etc and those are manual skills. Then learning how much to let stick out, where to put the chip breaker, etc, all takes time
James Boatright
2019-03-03 18:45:49 +0000 UTCThanks Rex, I'll let you know if I struggle. I also have that No. 5 I found to clean up and tune.
Steve Crane
2019-03-03 14:16:19 +0000 UTCIf you keep getting bad results, message me. I bet I can help you out. Getting your first plane tuned up is tough if you're on your own. It took me a year of on-and-off futzing to get my first plane working well. But once I got that one making good shavings, it was easy. Now, I can get ANY plane up and humming in a few hours. It's never hard and always fun.
Rex Krueger
2019-03-03 12:41:42 +0000 UTCI'm glad you think so. I was a little worried about this video being kind of long, but I thought it needed all the detail for anyone to be able to do anything with this plane. If I did any less, it wouldn't have been very helpful. Thanks again!
Rex Krueger
2019-03-03 12:36:51 +0000 UTCSo, I never heard of the 33 until just this second, but I looked it up and it looks a lot BETTER than the Stanley. Improved design; more iron support; thicker. And it costs less. We truly live in a strange world. And I was just in Harbor Freight this week. I could have picked one up. Crap!
Rex Krueger
2019-03-03 12:30:18 +0000 UTCI'm so glad you think so! Thanks!
Rex Krueger
2019-03-03 12:20:04 +0000 UTCThanks for posting this video in response to my cry for help. I'm off to watch the video, then I'll have no excuse for getting bad results from my plane any longer.
Steve Crane
2019-03-03 10:26:55 +0000 UTCThe amount of detail you are able to break down and make understandable is amazing. Thanks for the effort you put into this craft.
Josh Miller
2019-03-03 07:28:08 +0000 UTCThat was fun...:). How would this plane compare to the Harbor Freight no. 33 bench plane? It seems to have a lot of the same features of this Stanley. Maybe a comparison of all the inexpensive types one day?
Tello De Santis
2019-03-03 02:49:05 +0000 UTCExcellent video! I would have never thought to remove the adjuster hardware. Brilliant!
Jon Hall
2019-03-03 01:28:07 +0000 UTC
