I have a Miller's Falls No. 900B bench plane with two very small
hairline cracks near the throat on the bottom. They
are on opposite sides (left and right) and are opposing (front
and rear).
I got it at a flea market for about $10 or so and have used it as
a "curio" item on my bookshelf. Thinking about using it
and wondering if I should get them spot welded before use,
or just use until it breaks clean and then either weld them
or again return as a "curio" item.
Any thoughts?
MJ Wallace
On Feb 2, 6:06 am, "Dave W" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I have had good luck with epoxy repairs and reflattening using an abrasive
> belt on the tablesaw.<[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
> >I have a Miller's Falls No. 900B bench plane with two very small
> > hairline cracks near the throat on the bottom. They
> > are on opposite sides (left and right) and are opposing (front
> > and rear).
>
> > I got it at a flea market for about $10 or so and have used it as
> > a "curio" item on my bookshelf. Thinking about using it
> > and wondering if I should get them spot welded before use,
> > or just use until it breaks clean and then either weld them
> > or again return as a "curio" item.
>
> > Any thoughts?
>
> > MJ Wallace
My first plane was a Stanley #3 that I bought at a garage sale. It
had been broken completely in half and repaired with heavy brazing.
It is still one of my favorite planes, albeit with little collector
value.
I say fix that puppy!
I'll also second epoxy as a fix. I've used a product called Marine-
Tex for motorcycle repairs and it has worked great for years.
On Feb 1, 9:32 pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> I have a Miller's Falls No. 900B bench plane with two very small
> hairline cracks near the throat on the bottom. They
> are on opposite sides (left and right) and are opposing (front
> and rear).
>
> I got it at a flea market for about $10 or so and have used it as
> a "curio" item on my bookshelf. Thinking about using it
> and wondering if I should get them spot welded before use,
> or just use until it breaks clean and then either weld them
> or again return as a "curio" item.
>
As others have noted, cast iron can be brazed and planes that
have been repaired well are quite useable. If I understand the
Millers Falls numbering system a '900' plane is 9 inches long.
If the front breaks off entirely what is left might be useful as
a bull-nose or chisel plane...
--
FF
On Feb 1, 6:32 pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> I have a Miller's Falls No. 900B bench plane with two very small
> hairline cracks
> ... wondering if I should get them spot welded before use,
It is possible to braze, silver-braze, or nickel-braze cast iron
with good results, BUT you have to get the entire plane
up to heat as you do it (or the cast iron is likely to crack).
Silver-braze is best for penetrating a small crack,
nickel-braze is best for strength or making a fillet.
I did it once, with nickel rod and oxyacetylene, and the results
were good. If I had to do it at home, a bed of charcoal will keep
the plane body at working temperature, but you still want oxyacetylene
to melt the nickel (actually nickel-copper) fill rod.
Thu, Feb 1, 2007, 6:32pm (EST-3) From: [email protected] doth
queryeth::
<snip> Thinking about using it and wondering if I should get them spot
welded before use, or just use until it breaks clean and then either
weld them or again return as a "curio" item.
Any thoughts?
Yeeh. Why even ask? t's your plane, do whatever you want to with
it.
However, on the off chance you're wanting to know what I would do
with a plane in that conditiom, then I have to say that I don't know -
because I don't have a plane like that. You could give it to me, then
we could both find out.
JOAT
Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will
acquire the skill to do difficult things easily.
- Johann Von Schiller
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> brazing of cast iron is within the grasp of a reasonably capable home
> craftsman. I'd use your best judgment as to whether the plane is in
> danger of breaking further. if it is, I think I'd take a try at
> brazing it.
>
>
I suppose I'd take a look and see if the cracks are not a result of poor use
or drop damage, rendering the plane unusable as such. If it won't fettle
easily, bookend it is.
I have had good luck with epoxy repairs and reflattening using an abrasive
belt on the tablesaw.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have a Miller's Falls No. 900B bench plane with two very small
> hairline cracks near the throat on the bottom. They
> are on opposite sides (left and right) and are opposing (front
> and rear).
>
> I got it at a flea market for about $10 or so and have used it as
> a "curio" item on my bookshelf. Thinking about using it
> and wondering if I should get them spot welded before use,
> or just use until it breaks clean and then either weld them
> or again return as a "curio" item.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> MJ Wallace
>