First, yes, I've Googled it - for days.

1. I've never used a plane.
2. I've read a few books on planes and I know that they are sharp.
3. I have the combination of of my g-g-grandfather's plane and a small
job that would seem best handled with a plane.

I have a Stanley 129 that is not in new condition; but then it's
pushing a hundred years old and was in daily use in its time.
While the critical components look wonderful, the plane would not
fetch the prices I've seen listed for the model (that's aside from
sentimental value).

I cannot achieve shavings - only sawdust. I think I must not setting it
up correctly. There's an adjustment / positioning lever behind the
blade that I don't know exactly what to do with. There's a picture showing
it at:
http://www.handplane.com/wp-content/...atSheets/Stanl ey/129/StanleyNo.129Plane4-Big.jpg .

When moved, it changes the blade angle. However, when the frog is
tightened, it moves, so I'm thinking you start with it one position, then
move it to the other limit to lock.

Can anyone tell me how to properly set the adjustable part or anything
else about setting up this plane?

Thanks.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe " invalid
Newsgroups: rec.woodworking
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 5:21 PM
Subject: Stanley 129 plane setup question


First, yes, I've Googled it - for days.

1. I've never used a plane.
2. I've read a few books on planes and I know that they are sharp.
3. I have the combination of of my g-g-grandfather's plane and a small
job that would seem best handled with a plane.

I have a Stanley 129 that is not in new condition; but then it's
pushing a hundred years old and was in daily use in its time.
While the critical components look wonderful, the plane would not
fetch the prices I've seen listed for the model (that's aside from
sentimental value).

I cannot achieve shavings - only sawdust. I think I must not setting it
up correctly. There's an adjustment / positioning lever behind the
blade that I don't know exactly what to do with. There's a picture
showing
it at:
http://www.handplane.com/wp-content/...atSheets/Stanl
ey/129/StanleyNo.129Plane4-Big.jpg .

When moved, it changes the blade angle. However, when the frog is
tightened, it moves, so I'm thinking you start with it one position, then
move it to the other limit to lock.

Can anyone tell me how to properly set the adjustable part or anything
else about setting up this plane?



The link is fine it just needs pasting back together.

A full lesson in using an old plane is just not something that you will get
from usenet in plain text.

If you are trying to make shavings there are two critical things to get
right:

A sharp blade - without which you will acheive nothing
The depth of cut - look down the length of the sole of the plane and adjust
to see the blade as a thin black line protruding from the sole.

More than that here and now would be pointless and confusing, except perhaps
to say press down on the front as you make your stroke. Good luck. A strong
arm and a sharp blade and you will not be going far wrong.

Tim W

On 6/5/2011 11:21 AM, Joe wrote:

Can anyone tell me how to properly set the adjustable part or anything
else about setting up this plane?

See if this helps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv1zo...eature=related

There are other related videos, so look for them on youtube
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On Sun, 05 Jun 2011 17:51:38 -0500, Swingman wrote:

On 6/5/2011 11:21 AM, Joe wrote:

Can anyone tell me how to properly set the adjustable part or anything
else about setting up this plane?

See if this helps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv1zo...eature=related

There are other related videos, so look for them on youtube

Garrett Hack's _The Handplane Book_ is also excellent.
http://goo.gl/fKjbE

_Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings_ by Aldren A. Watson
Olde time tool talk. http://goo.gl/KjIFZ

Buy new, used, or borrow a copy from the local library, Joe!

--
Experience is a good teacher, but she send in terrific bills.
-- Minna Thomas Antrim

On Jun 5, 12:21*pm, Joe invalid wrote:
First, yes, I've Googled it - for days.

1. *I've never used a plane.
2. *I've read a few books on planes and I know that they are sharp.
3. *I have the combination of of my g-g-grandfather's plane and a small
job that would seem best handled with a plane.

I have a Stanley 129 that is not in new condition; but then it's
pushing a hundred years old and was in daily use in its time.
While the critical components look wonderful, the plane would not
fetch the prices I've seen listed for the model (that's aside from
sentimental value).

I cannot achieve shavings - only sawdust. *I think I must not setting it
up correctly. *There's an adjustment / positioning lever behind the
blade that I don't know exactly what to do with. *There's a picture showing
it at:http://www.handplane.com/wp-content/...Plane4-Big.jpg .

When moved, it changes the blade angle. *However, when the frog is
tightened, it moves, so I'm thinking you start with it one position, then
move it to the other limit to lock.

Can anyone tell me how to properly set the adjustable part or anything
else about setting up this plane?

Thanks.

The 129 is a transitional plane and does not operate like your rank
and file Stanley bench plane. Your plane is similar to this:
http://www.supertool.com/stanleybg/stan12.htm#num135

I'm not as familiar with the transitional planes - I own a couple, but
I have never used one. Still, something's getting lost in the
translation. The adjusting lever should move the blade up and down
along the frog - changing the depth of cut, not changing the blade
angle, so I'm not quite sure what you have going on. You didn't
mention sharpening the blade - how sharp is it? The sawdust thing is
odd if you have a sharp blade.

Take some pictures of how you have it set up, from top and bottom, and
of the iron/chip breaker by itself, and post them on a free hosting
site and post the links back here.

R