Throughout the course of the thread, I’ve referred to various planes, and depicted a few, that I really like to use. Some of these planes are “specialty” tools that I don’t use as often as others, like the Rumbold butt mortise plane (see page 17, reply 254), but because they do a specific job so well they’re the tool of choice for the job at hand. Then there are a few that I can’t help but use every time wood is involved, like the Lie-Nielsen #60 ½ (see page 19, reply 270), because they’re literally staples that can’t be overlooked for their utility and versatility. Out in my shop there’s a third category of “user” planes. For lack of a better term, I’ll refer to them as “any excuse” planes. That means, any excuse I can think of to use such a tool is all I need to pull it off the shelf and put it to work. This is one of those tools…..
Stanley #605 ½:
I bought this plane over a dozen years ago as I was making my last pass through a tool show trade room in St. Charles, IL. I didn’t specifically go looking for a #605 ½, and more or less stumbled upon it. As I was heading for the door, I passed by a table full of what I remember were nice “user quality” Stanley bench planes, many of which were Bedrocks. It’s not like I had missed this seller’s table earlier and just discovered it as I was leaving. I saw his stuff, made a mental note, and kept moving. His prices were on the outer edge of reasonable and I wasn’t really looking for bench planes. So, a couple hours later as I was heading for the parking lot, my shortest walk out of the trade room took me past his table again. We made eye contact as I got closer and he asked how I did. “Okay” I said, slowed down for a second, and then I asked if he sold anything. “A couple” was the response I got. Just as I was getting ready to keep going, the front knob of this #605 ½ caught my eye. It had a distinct dark and light section that went almost down the middle of the turning. I’m guessing it’s where the sapwood met the heartwood of the tree. Every once in a while I’ll come across a plane that has unusual wood grain on its knob and/or tote. This one just caught my eye. Funny thing is that I missed it a couple hours earlier when I initially looked at the planes on his table. Well, I put my bag down and picked up this plane for a closer look. You know what happens next.
I didn’t need this plane. The price, while in the ballpark, was a little high for what I thought I was getting. The cash I budgeted was pretty much gone, and if I wanted it, I’d have to write a check. While not the end of the world, I don’t typically like to over spend the cash in my pocket. On the other hand, I didn’t have a “user” in this size, and it was an early Bedrock, which I’m drawn to. I evaluated the plane for condition, disassembled it (with the seller’s permission), and generally liked what I saw. It was complete with all vintage correct parts, its condition and patina matched its age, and it bore the signs of a life well lived but not abused. While the plane had been lightly and carefully cleaned, its finishes were original to include some chipped japanning, minor pitting on exposed cast iron and some tiny cracks and dings on the knob and tote. This is what I personally like to see on a vintage, user quality tool that at the time was almost one hundred years old. Anyway, the seller and I negotiated a little, I think I slightly overpaid and the deal was struck.
Not long after I got the plane home, I completely disassembled it, re-ground and sharpened the iron, lubricated the moving and threaded parts and put it back together. With a few adjustments, it was ready to go. I could probably ramble on and on all day long about my love for this plane, but you’d be bored. (Maybe you already are!!) Let me just say that the tool Gods were smiling when this plane was manufactured. I didn’t do anything different to this plane that I haven’t done to so many others, but for some unknown reason, it cuts like no other. It might just be one of those tools. I really can’t explain it, but that’s why it falls into my “any excuse” to use it category. I look for, and sometimes invent, jobs for this plane. I guess one of the central themes I’ve tried to relate during the course of this thread is the absolute satisfaction and inspiration that can be had from using an old plane, even if its on a simple task like building a dog ramp. (See page 46, reply 682). This plane does it for me. So there you have it. I guess I should end with a few comments about the plane itself.
Stanley produced the Bedrock #605 ½ between 1898 and 1935. The plane depicted below is a Type 4 Bedrock, which was produced between 1908 and 1910. The Type 4 was the last version of the Bedrock series that was made with the arched sides commonly seen on standard bench planes. It was also the last Bedrock to use the standard method of attaching the frog to the sole/main body casting of the plane with screws only. (For a more detailed discussion regarding Bedrock frog design/attachment, see page 42, reply 624.) In 1911, when the Type 5 Bedrocks were introduced, the arched sides were gone in favor of distinctive flat top sides and the standard screw attachment between the frog and main casting was replaced with a dimpled pin and perpendicular pointed screw arrangement. (Again, see page 42, reply 624.) Finally, one thing to note about the #605 ½ and early versions of the Stanley #5 ½ is that in 1939 the dimensions of the iron changed. The first versions of both planes were outfitted with 2 ¼” wide irons. After 1939 or so, the #5 ½ was outfitted with an iron that was 2 3/8” wide. What I’m saying is that any Stanley #605 ½ you come across should be fitted with a 2 ¼” wide iron. That iron is characteristic to the #605 ½ and early #5 ½ planes. When looking to buy a #605 ½ make sure to check the width of the iron.
Sorry this was a long one (again). Thanks for hanging in there.
Jim C.
