Workshops always fascinate me … maybe because I’m really mining for ideas.  Here’s one I thought was really interesting.  Click on image to see more.

 

Todd Clippinger’s shop – His site is The American Craftsman Workshop

Ok, maybe it’s more like to rehab or not to rehab.

I’ve been wanting an old Stanley Jack plane to fix up and call my own .. and use, of course.  I so loved the frog on my little No. 3 that I just fixed up, I decided to see if I could find the same frog/aged plane for a good price.

I found a Stanley No. 5 Type 11 for $ 20.   If you know anything about old planes, at this point you’re saying to yourself .. wonder what’s wrong with it?”

I’m still cleaning and working on the plane, but here’s the major(?) flaw with the plane.  Click on the picture to get a better look.

There’s a crack in the mouth.    It does not appear to go all the way through.

So what da ya think?  Spend time on cleaning it up or just mount it on the wall?

As far as I can tell, it’s a pretty cool plane.  Check out the lever cap and the frog.

 

 Here’s what I’m thinking.  I work on it for a couple of hours, add a Hock blade and if the plane blows up I find another old one to rescue.

So really, I’d love to know.  Is the crack a sign of a plane not worth the rescue?