Hooked on Hand Tools – Stanley 101 plane:
Randy Maxey gets hooked on hand tools and this time it’s a Stanley 101 plane
Randy Maxey gets hooked on hand tools and this time it’s a Stanley 101 plane
I don’t recall where or how I obtained this little Stanley 101 plane, but I was excited to get it and see if I could get it to work. Fettling this plane is a little tricky since there’s no blade adjustment mechanism. You have to adjust the blade by sight and feel then tighten the lever cap screw to secure it.
Many people wonder what the little nib is for at the back of the plane. Since this plane lacks a mechanism for adjusting the blade depth, you can tap the back of the plane to retract the blade for fine adjustments. The nib provides extra surface for gentle hammer strikes. This is the way wood-body hand planes were adjusted for centuries. It takes some practice, but once you figure it out, you’ll discover that it’s not that difficult.
Believe it or not, the Stanley 101 was originally included in toy tool sets. But too many adults realized it’s usefulness and it found its way into their workshop.
This little plane is the perfect size for easing the sharp corners of a workpiece. Creating small chamfers and roundovers are other tasks at which it excels. It’s always within reach in my workshop.
