Help with a Stanley #51 shave

Brad F

Brad F

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Recently picked up a Stanley #51 that is missing the thumb screw or knurled knob that holds the iron solid after adjusting. It fits the top screw hole in the cap. The thread in the hole appears to be a 10-24 NC but a 10-24 will not clear the hole in the casting. Looks like there may be a bad thread near the back. Before I chase the hole with a tap can someone that has this spokeshave confirm that the thread is 10-24 NC. I've been checking on line and haven't found the info/specs on that thread yet. I picked up a 10-24 NC thumb screw to use if it's correct.

UPDATE::: as of 3:45 PM :::::::::::::::::::: Info. off the WEB makes it looks like I'm stuck. Apparently Stanley used some threads back years ago that are not standard now and difficult to find. This is likely something like 10-20 or ? Anyway, since I'm not a collector and this isn't a rare tool I can either pay $6 or $8 on Ebay for a used screw that should fit or just drill it out and tap it to something I can get now a days...that is unless someone here has a parts plane laying around... Stanley 51, 52, 151 or 152 should have the same screw....so unless someone can help me keep this original looks like I'll modify it so I can get it into use in the shop.

Again thanks for reading this and for any help that may be offered.

 
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I received no other information so I decided to drill and tap the hole.....this is not a rare tool in any way. No luck finding a knurled knob locally and the next size larger thumb screw was 1/4 inch so that is where I went. Drilled and taped the hole and installed the thumb screw after cutting it shorter...may have to take a couple more threads off if it is in the way? One comment I received from a friend on the DHBP that called was that he could not get this shave to work well...kept chattering no matter what he tried as far as sharpening angle and tuning the iron. While in search of the thread info. I found several good articles on Stanley shaves. One article I found stated that shimming the iron off the bed will move the cutting edge of the iron closer to the front of the throat and help eliminate the chattering. After I sharpen this one I'll try that. If that doesn't work this will go on the wall along with assorted other tools that seldom if ever get used but are fun to collect.

Thanks Paul for the phone call.
 
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Brad, that is what I would have done as well, you are looking for a user not a collector piece anyhow. Hope it worked well, the only thing I would have added was to check with Lee Valley and then McMaster-Carr, they always seem to have the odd stuff I am looking for.

have a good one.


http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/res6q3oq/oldtools/jayspages/routers/

oh, check out this page too, lots of old hand tool info there as well.
 
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Eric, thanks for the post. When I get into the shop again, been ice fishing some, I plan on putting a good edge on the iron and try the "shimming the iron out" to close the mouth some. If that works I'll post that info up. Maybe this will make these Stanley shaves usable for more people?
 
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