Vintage tools: Stanley #71 & #71 1/2 router plane restoration - Final

After four coats of amber shellac the wood soles are ready for the next steps.
I scrubbed the bottom face (the one that will slide on the wood) with fine steel wool so to get a very smooth finish and I also rubbed that same face with some paste finishing wax to lower sliding resistance. I am pretty happy with the final result. 

It was then time for the soles to find their way on each plane and to put back the cutter and support.

The #71 1/2 on its sole.

The #71 on its sole.

I gave each of plane a quick try on a scrap piece of pine, I think they will be fine.

The #71 in action

The #71 1/2 in action

Next step will be to put these two to real use!

Vintage tools: Stanley #71 & #71 1/2 router plane restoration - part 2

Today the planes knobs as well as the wood soles received their shellac coats.
For the knobs, I used a crew as an handle to be able to dip it in shellac so to avoid any brush mark, that worked very well.

I used a screw to dip the knobs in shellac.

After three coats the the knobs were looking pretty good and went back to were they should be.

The knobs attached back to their plane.

While waiting for the soles to dry I gave a look to the blades that were coming with the planes. On was provided with a 1/4" blade the other with a 7/8" blade.

The planes blades. Top one is from the #71,
bottom one from the #71 1/2, I need more!

Both were totally dull and needed a good sharpening. I spent half an hour playing with the blades on my wet stones, hopefully they will be sharp enough, will see when everything will be mounted back on the planes.
I was able to find a depth rod/stop assembly for the #71 on eBay at a reasonable price. I am always amazed to see how much some people are asking for such small parts like depth rods. When I see one offered for 50$ or 60$ I just want to run... or cry. Sometimes the price is fair but shipping cost totally indecent.
I still have to find a depth adjustment wheel for the #71 1/2. On that plane the depth adjustment threaded rod has a small nick on the threads and I want to use a die to clean the thread. After measuring it, I found out that the diameter is a 1/4" with a 24NF thread, what of course I do not have in my die and tap set. One more thing to find!

SAE 24NF thread, perfect match.

Vintage tools: Stanley #71 & #71 1/2 router plane restoration

Recently I got 2 router planes at auction, a Stanley #71 type 9 and a Stanley #71 1/2 type 3. They are both in correct condition but need a good cleanup. They are also both incomplete, the #71 is missing the depth post and stop and the #71 1/2 is missing depth adjustment wheel so I will need to find the missing parts.

First step of the restoration was to disassemble the planes, removing all parts and knobs. I then gave them a good bath in the rust remover green slime, brushed them, rinse them and wipe them with few drop of thin oil.

The two planes after a good cleanup.
The 71 1/2 on the right was black covered with gunk.

I also sanded the knobs to bare wood and stained them with the same stain I used on the miter saw tote (red chestnut).

I want to add a wood sole to both of them. To make these sole I found a leftover scrap of padouk that will be perfect for this.
I started by screwing both plane to the board so I can trace their contour with a pencil.

The padouk board showing each plane contour.

The contour traced first step was to drill the center mouth. I was very lucky to have an expansive wood bit to do this. I have 2 of them, an Irwin #21 and an Irwin #22. Here the hole is 1"1/2 wide so the #21 will be enough. 

The Irwin #21 expansive brace bit.

I mounted it on my hand brace, started to drill on one face until the center bit went through, then turned the board and finished to drill from the other face so the hole is clean cut.

Drilling a hole of this size requires some effort.

Both center mouth clean cut.

Next step was to remove as much wood as possible around the contour. For this I used the smaller Disston D8 I have, it is 10tpi so the cut was quite clean.

Using the saw to remove excess wood around.

I then used a sharp chisel to carve the wood along the traced contour. Finally I put each plane back on its wood sole and used the pencil tip to trace where the sole was to wide then sanded that extra wood off.

Chiseling the sole contour.

The plan back on the raw sole to mark excess wood.

At the end I got two soles matching the plane shape almost perfectly.

The two soles, while similar they are not identical.

Almost a perfect match.

I added a small chamfer to the sole and used a 50/50 mix or turpentine and boiled linseed oil as a first coat. 

The oiled soles and the stained knobs left to dry overnight

The soles and knobs will be left to dry overnight and will receive 4 coats of shellac tomorrow.