I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and broke.. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base. What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one. But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.

"Michael" wrote in message
...

I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's
grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned
up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and
broke. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base.
What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because
of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on
it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one.
But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that
these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any
success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.


If, when you put the two pieces together, there's just a hairline crack
between them, I'd be inclined to use a cyanoacrylate adhesive. There are
various formulations for woodworking, of various viscosities. Rockler
(http://www.rockler.com), for instance, has a number of them.

Tom

"tdacon" wrote in news:lg5q85$oqj$1@dont-
email.me:


"Michael" wrote in message
...

I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's
grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned
up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and
broke. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base.
What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because
of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on
it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one.
But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that
these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any
success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.


If, when you put the two pieces together, there's just a hairline crack
between them, I'd be inclined to use a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

I disagree. I'd use epoxy instead.

Cyanoacrylate glues have poor shear strength, and I suspect that the bond won't survive
long in service. Using CA glue will *also* quite effectively seal the two surfaces, making it
darn near impossible to effect a repair with any other type of adhesive once the CA glue
joint comes apart.

On 3/16/2014 10:05 PM, Michael wrote:
I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and broke. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base. What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one. But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.

Gorilla glues is the weakest of all glues.

I had the same problem, I used epoxy to glue my handle back together.
Put a straw in the hole to protect gluing the rod to the handle.
take the frog off so you have clear working room.
glue the handle together, wrap with some saran wrap.
tighten the clamp up a little,
clamp if possible, if not use a bicycle tube to wrap around the handle
to keep it from getting out of line.
then tighten the nut a little more.
Sand when done.
refinish with shellac.

--
Jeff

On 3/17/2014 7:13 AM, Doug Miller wrote:
"tdacon" wrote in news:lg5q85$oqj$1@dont-
email.me:


"Michael" wrote in message
...

I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's
grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned
up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and
broke. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base.
What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because
of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on
it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one.
But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that
these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any
success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.


If, when you put the two pieces together, there's just a hairline crack
between them, I'd be inclined to use a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

I disagree. I'd use epoxy instead.

Cyanoacrylate glues have poor shear strength, and I suspect that the bond won't survive
long in service. Using CA glue will *also* quite effectively seal the two surfaces, making it
darn near impossible to effect a repair with any other type of adhesive once the CA glue
joint comes apart.


Agreed. CA is too brittle.

--
Jeff

On Monday, March 17, 2014 9:09:05 AM UTC-5, woodchucker wrote:
On 3/16/2014 10:05 PM, Michael wrote:

I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and broke. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base. What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one. But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.



Gorilla glues is the weakest of all glues.



I had the same problem, I used epoxy to glue my handle back together.

Put a straw in the hole to protect gluing the rod to the handle.

take the frog off so you have clear working room.

glue the handle together, wrap with some saran wrap.

tighten the clamp up a little,

clamp if possible, if not use a bicycle tube to wrap around the handle

to keep it from getting out of line.

then tighten the nut a little more.

Sand when done.

refinish with shellac.



--

Jeff

Thanks everyone. I'll follow these instructions exactly. Much appreciated.

Mike

On Sun, 16 Mar 2014 20:30:14 -0700, "tdacon"
wrote:


"Michael" wrote in message
...

I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's
grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned
up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and
broke. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base.
What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because
of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on
it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one.
But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that
these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any
success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.


If, when you put the two pieces together, there's just a hairline crack
between them, I'd be inclined to use a cyanoacrylate adhesive. There are
various formulations for woodworking, of various viscosities. Rockler
(http://www.rockler.com), for instance, has a number of them.

Tom


Stanley #4's are so common they can often be bought at garage sales
for under $10. If I remember correctly the handles of a #3 and #4 are
interchangeable. I'd keep my eye out for a cheap plane with an intact
handle and replace it.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

On Monday, March 17, 2014 12:55:33 PM UTC-5, Nova wrote:
On Sun, 16 Mar 2014 20:30:14 -0700, "tdacon"

wrote:





"Michael" wrote in message

...



I picked up an old Stanley #4 on Craigslist for 10 bucks (someone's

grandpa's old plane). It has plenty of rust, but I think when it's cleaned

up it will be a very nice replacement for the one that fell off my bench and

broke. The rosewood handle is cracked clean through 1/2 inch from the base.

What's the best method for repair? My first thought is Gorilla Glue because

of course the bond need to be super tough for the torque that will be put on

it. I could use a handle from another plane, or buy a used one, or make one.

But I'd like to keep it as original as possible for now. (I understand that

these old planes have often already switched out parts a few times). Any

success in mending rosewood handles? Thanks.





If, when you put the two pieces together, there's just a hairline crack

between them, I'd be inclined to use a cyanoacrylate adhesive. There are

various formulations for woodworking, of various viscosities. Rockler

(http://www.rockler.com), for instance, has a number of them.



Tom





Stanley #4's are so common they can often be bought at garage sales

for under $10. If I remember correctly the handles of a #3 and #4 are

interchangeable. I'd keep my eye out for a cheap plane with an intact

handle and replace it.

--

Jack Novak

Buffalo, NY - USA

I agree, but it's a sweetheart plane and has a little historical value, so I'd like to keep it intact. The previous owner used the cutter almost to the adjusting hole (!), so there's not a lot of life left there. It should clean up pretty well though.