Any tips for setting the iron on a #78

[MarkE]

Anyone got any tips or tricks for getting the iron set properly on a Stanley #78.

Had a need to use this plane recently. I pulled the iron out and got it nice a sharp on the WS3000. Now I can't seem to get the thing set up right. Got it in there where I thought it should be, but the plane just glides over the wood without cutting. Tapped on the blade to move it down, then it wants to dig right in, taking a big bite. Can't seem to find a happy medium.

In case anyone asks, the bevel is down ( :gar-La; ). Can't really put in any other way.

Anyway... HELP!

 

[Mike Davis]

I had to futz with mine a bit. I started with the plane on a flat surface and the iron touching the surface then tapped it just a hair. Tightened it up and got a good cut. That was after I tried a lot of other things that didn't work.

 

[MarkE]

I'll give that a try tomorrow, Mike.

Thanks.

 

[Gofor]

I have the Craftsman (Stanley knock-off) model I inherited from from my Dad. I start by setting it on my work bench and install the blade with the edge sitting on the bench like Mike described. I tighten it and then try it. Sometimes that is enough. If it doesn't cut, I sight down the sole and tap it out until I just barely see the iron. Any more and it digs in just like you said.

I don't know if mine was dropped on the nose, or poorly made, but the bull nose on the end was skewed a little bit from the rest of the sole and plane body. It took a couple of sessions to get it flattened and trued up square. Before then, the plane was pretty much unusable because to get a cut I had to extend the blade too far, and it wasn't flat with the bull nose front. It either did not cut, or dug in on one side.

Mine is still a finicky cuss at times.

Go

 

[MarkE]

I have the Craftsman (Stanley knock-off) model I inherited from from my Dad. I start by setting it on my work bench and install the blade with the edge sitting on the bench like Mike described. I tighten it and then try it. Sometimes that is enough. If it doesn't cut, I sight down the sole and tap it out until I just barely see the iron. Any more and it digs in just like you said.

I don't know if mine was dropped on the nose, or poorly made, but the bull nose on the end was skewed a little bit from the rest of the sole and plane body. It took a couple of sessions to get it flattened and trued up square. Before then, the plane was pretty much unusable because to get a cut I had to extend the blade too far, and it wasn't flat with the bull nose front. It either did not cut, or dug in on one side.

Mine is still a finicky cuss at times.

Go

It is easier to set the iron on the rear bed. The front bed is where I am having trouble. I will have to check the bull nose to see if it is bent. The rest of the sole seems to be pretty flat.