How to tune up a vintage Stanley or Record bench plane

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Check what you've got

   Look for a maker's name cast in the front and on the lever cap. Check the body for cracks, especially beside the mouth. Make sure the frog, lever cap, iron, chipbreaker and adjuster are all there.

2. 2

   Step 2: Strip and clean

   Take it fully apart. Clean the rust off the iron, chipbreaker and screws, and wash old grease off the body. Keep the original japanning (the black paint) if you can, as collectors value it.

3. 3

   Step 3: Flatten the sole, only as much as needed

   Stick wet and dry paper to glass and rub the sole with even pressure, in long strokes. Mark the sole with a marker first so you can see the low spots. You only need it flat around the mouth, toe and heel. Don't chase perfection.

4. 4

   Step 4: Fit the chipbreaker

   The chipbreaker must sit tight against the back of the iron with no light showing. Hone its front edge flat on a stone so shavings can't jam under it.

5. 5

   Step 5: Flatten and sharpen the iron

   Flatten the first few millimetres of the back of the iron, then sharpen the bevel at about 25 degrees with a small 30 degree micro bevel. Round the corners very slightly so it doesn't leave tracks.

6. 6

   Step 6: Reassemble and set

   Put the chipbreaker about 1 mm back from the edge, refit the frog so the mouth is narrow for fine work, and tighten the lever cap just enough to hold the iron. Use the lateral lever to set the edge parallel with the sole.

7. 7

   Step 7: Wax and test

   Wax the sole and take a cut on some pine. Adjust the depth until the shavings come off thin and full width.