Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: Neals on June 24, 2015, 09:49:03 PM

Title: Any ideas
Post by: Neals on June 24, 2015, 09:49:03 PM
Recently asked to identify this. I have not seen one before. Was told it was a log scribe but does not look very practical for that to me. LOL wrong photo.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Neals on June 24, 2015, 09:51:19 PM
Try #2.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Branson on June 26, 2015, 08:29:38 AM
It sure isn't a log scribe.  (what purpose would that have?)  It's a hand router -- the kind that inspired the Stanley 71 1/2.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: stillfishin on June 26, 2015, 08:52:19 AM
I think its some kind of scribe, but it sure isn't a hand router. That blade is shaped totally wrong for that to be the case.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: oldtoolguy on June 26, 2015, 10:00:48 AM
Branson is correct.  It's a hand router.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: stillfishin on June 26, 2015, 10:16:04 PM
Any hand router Ive ever seen has a flat bottom to the blade. How could that one on that tool begin to cut any wood?
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: gibsontool on June 27, 2015, 10:51:51 AM
I can sort of see that being a router, it would cut a narrow channel thru a piece of material, but, I don't think that cutter is correct. Like stillfihin says the blade should be flat on the bottom. The blade or cutter does resemble a scribe point.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: oldtoolguy on June 27, 2015, 01:30:05 PM
The router in the picture is laying on its' side, and the blade has slipped way down.  Google "old womans tooth router" and you will see all kinds of similar ones.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: stillfishin on June 27, 2015, 02:16:14 PM
Which part of the fact that a hand router blade has to have a flat bottom to function eludes you old tool guy? Or have you never worked with wood? If not I see where your confusion comes in. If you have can you show me any examples of hand routers that function with a curved blade in contact with the wood? I don't think you can because its not possible.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: oldtoolguy on June 27, 2015, 03:40:28 PM
Obviously, I've seen a few more hand routers than you have.  Did you take the time to Google like I suggested?  That should explain it to you.  If not, I can't help you.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Bill Houghton on June 27, 2015, 06:05:49 PM
In the first pic, I see what looks like a boat propeller and a folding rule.  Do I win the prize?
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Branson on June 28, 2015, 09:58:55 AM
Which part of the fact that a hand router blade has to have a flat bottom to function eludes you old tool guy? Or have you never worked with wood? If not I see where your confusion comes in. If you have can you show me any examples of hand routers that function with a curved blade in contact with the wood? I don't think you can because its not possible.

Like every single other hand router of this style, the blade is angled slightly down.  Except that the body here is wood, it looks exactly like the Stanley #71, #71 1/2, # 271, all of which I have and have been using for 30 + years.  I have another, a coach maker's hand router, patterned like a spoke shave, which is also set up the same way.  You need examples?  Just google Stanley 71 1/2.  Except for the cast iron body, it is exactly the same.

Here's a modern made example:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/284641638921105738/

Several more:

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/BuildingaWoodenRouterPlane.html

Lie Nielsen's metallic version:

http://www.henryeckert.com/?route=product/product&product_id=544

One made in 1743:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/198510296047255041/

Undated example:

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-old-router-plane-shavings-wood-board-image29431968

On ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-GRANNYS-WOMANS-TOOTH-HAND-OWT-ROUTER-Wood-BLOCK-PLANE-Spokeshave-1m-/141554523958

Different blade style:

http://hyperkitten.com/pics/tools/fs/archives/Jan2012/wbp5.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tc0t8CgyXiI/TC82doTv1DI/AAAAAAAAE3s/jINMie_nFdw/s1600/RouterPlane.jpg

How to make your own:

http://www.bob-easton.com/blog/2009/866/

Do you need any more examples?  I'm one of the two master historical carpenters at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park.  I and the other master wrote the 1983 plan for the carpenter's shop there.

And stillfishin, before you get rude to Oldtoolguy again (if for some reason you must), make sure you know what you are talking about.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Papaw on June 28, 2015, 10:10:46 AM
I hope we don't descend into personal attacks over an old tool and its form and function.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: eddie hudson on June 28, 2015, 11:08:55 AM
I think a few more pictures would help clear up the mystery.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: leg17 on June 28, 2015, 02:13:47 PM
Take it over to Topix children
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: oldtools on June 28, 2015, 02:30:49 PM
Thank you Branson,
those links explains a lot to those who haven't seen a Hand Router before...

Neals, can we see different views of your hand router? At that angle the tip looks like a spike, but a side view may explain a lot..
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Neals on June 29, 2015, 12:01:31 PM
These are the only pics I have
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Yadda on June 29, 2015, 12:52:41 PM
I hope we don't descend into personal attacks over an old tool and its form and function.

Here, here!!  I agree with Papaw.   If it continues I recommend brickbats at 20 paces..... :grin:
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Bill Houghton on June 29, 2015, 02:36:54 PM
It sure looks from the photo like that's the cutter for the tool.  So the apparent curve upward on the bottom of the cutting edge is either an optical illusion, or really really bad grinding by a previous owner.

Pretty thing.  I wouldn't turn one down if I found it in my travels, but I'm happy with my Stanley 71-1/2s and 71s, and is this a place where I can safely mention that I like all four of them without people wondering why I own more than one?
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Yadda on June 29, 2015, 03:00:31 PM
I wouldn't turn one down if I found it in my travels, but I'm happy with my Stanley 71-1/2s and 71s, and is this a place where I can safely mention that I like all four of them without people wondering why I own more than one?

This is a place of happy enablement.  Not that there's anything wrong with that... :grin:
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Neals on June 29, 2015, 03:13:26 PM
Many thanks guys! I hope to buy it but so far no luck.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: oldtoolguy on June 29, 2015, 07:36:38 PM
If you get it, all you have to do is turn the blade so the cutting edge faces the opening, and slide it up into position.  Then you're ready to start routing! 
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Branson on June 30, 2015, 07:03:46 AM
It sure looks from the photo like that's the cutter for the tool.  So the apparent curve upward on the bottom of the cutting edge is either an optical illusion, or really really bad grinding by a previous owner.

Pretty thing.  I wouldn't turn one down if I found it in my travels, but I'm happy with my Stanley 71-1/2s and 71s, and is this a place where I can safely mention that I like all four of them without people wondering why I own more than one?

It does look like the PO ground the bottom of the blade to make an almost 90 degree flat near the cutting edge.  I haven't seen that before, but perhaps he wanted something closer to a paring chisel format.

I've resisted the urge to get a second 71 or 71 1/2.  but if it were cheap enough my resistance would likely crumble.  So I'm limited to one of each, a 271, and the bronze coachmaker's hand router.  The real wonder is that I don't have more.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Branson on June 30, 2015, 07:09:15 AM
If you get it, all you have to do is turn the blade so the cutting edge faces the opening, and slide it up into position.  Then you're ready to start routing!

That's the most common position for the blade, and the one I use.  However, many of these blades can be reversed, and sometimes are.  Sometimes.  It seems that in some operations the worker wants a completely unimpeded view of what's in front of the blade.  Haven't tried it myself, but I have seen it.   Maybe if one is cleaning out the bottom of a stop dado it helps, making it more like a chisel plane.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: OilyRascal on June 30, 2015, 09:15:59 PM
Is there a particular type of route this is designed to perform?  Different bits?
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Branson on July 01, 2015, 08:09:30 AM
Is there a particular type of route this is designed to perform?  Different bits?

Mostly it's used for fielding down.  I've used mine mostly for making hinge mortises, but also for
cleaning and evening dados.  It also works for inletting when carving bas relief and making a
flat surface below the top of a piece of wood -- like the finishing bottoming for a box to hold
a sharpening stone, or things like making the recess under a patch-box in rifle stocks.

Blades are mostly different only in the width of the blade, but there are blades that aren't
flat across the edge.  These may have a skew edge, or, more commonly, are  skewed
on both edges to a V shape.  While other shapes can be imagined and useful in some
applications, the above are the only shapes I have seen.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Billman49 on July 05, 2015, 05:41:26 PM
Also known in the UK as an 'old woman's tooth' or 'hag's tooth' router....
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Branson on July 06, 2015, 09:13:43 AM
Also known in the UK as an 'old woman's tooth' or 'hag's tooth' router....

Yep.  This pattern is a "D" handle.
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: bird on July 08, 2015, 07:46:14 AM
I hope we don't descend into personal attacks over an old tool and its form and function.

Amen!!!!!! We are supposed to be united by our love for tools!!!!!!
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Chillylulu on August 18, 2015, 07:48:35 PM
Is there a particular type of route this is designed to perform?  Different bits?

Mostly it's used for fielding down.  I've used mine mostly for making hinge mortises, but also for
cleaning and evening dados.  It also works for inletting when carving bas relief and making a
flat surface below the top of a piece of wood -- like the finishing bottoming for a box to hold
a sharpening stone, or things like making the recess under a patch-box in rifle stocks.

Blades are mostly different only in the width of the blade, but there are blades that aren't
flat across the edge.  These may have a skew edge, or, more commonly, are  skewed
on both edges to a V shape.  While other shapes can be imagined and useful in some
applications, the above are the only shapes I have seen.

I am not very experienced with wood hand tool methods, but I am curious. What would be the difference in a blade (or blades) used at other times during the day. Is it (evening dado blade) because you would be somewhat wore out that late in the day? E.G., Would morning dados be easier or harder to cut than evening dados? Would a different bit be used to true up the bottom of a dado?

Hmmmm.  :embarrassed:

I think I'm a but rusty having been out of the game for a couple of months.

Always like your responses and obvious expertise Branson - so I hope you know that my comments came from a warped way of reading things sometimes and the joke was meant to showcase my idiocy.

Regards,

Chilly
Title: Re: Any ideas
Post by: Branson on August 19, 2015, 11:18:55 AM
You see, Chilly, mornings are for out door work, evenings are for inside work at a bench, and tools for mourning work are always painted black...