Hello everyone. I hope you all are doing well.
This blog entry is about a Craftsman Rabbet and Fillister Plane. You can watch a demonstration here if you’d like.
From what I could find, this plane was made for Craftsman by Sargent and Company sometime before 1964. The 619, at the front of the model number, indicates that it was made by Sargent and Company. Please let me know if I am incorrect on that.
This hand plane was purchased quite a while back at a local antiques mall for $40. Given the condition of the plane, I was glad to pay this price. Especially since the plane came with all the major components. The only thing it lacked was the rod for the fence. I was able to make one that works well.
Not knowing what the original looked like, I simply cut a slot in the end for a common screw driver.
The spur (knicker) for this plane differs from other rabbeting planes in that it is round.
Here is how the instructions tell you to set the spur.
I found this to be problematic when using the plane in a cross-grain application (the spur is not needed when making a rabbet with the grain). The spur seemed to extend below the surface of the plane sole too much, nearly 1/8”.
This picture shows what I mean.
This doesn’t allow the iron to engage with the material the way it should. So, I used the spur to score the fibers of the material, then I disengaged the spur.
With the surface fibers sufficiently scored, I was able to make a cross-grain rabbet with no problem.
The above picture shows a rabbet with the grain and across the grain. The rabbet made with the grain was fairly typical so nothing needs to be said about that.
Where to start a rabbet cut seems to be up for debate.
Do you start at the end of the board and work your way to the front?
Or, do you start at the front and work toward the end?
I personally don’t think it matters. But, I would like to know your thoughts. Which method do you use and why?
What about the plane iron? Should it be absolutely flush with the side of the plane body or should it be slightly proud of the surface?
This too seems to be a personal preference.
With all of that being said, and I’m sure that I could prattle on much longer about it, I’m glad that I bought this Craftsman Rabbet and Fillister Plane. I wasn’t able to find very much about this model online so if you have one I’d like to hear about it.
Do you even own a rabbeting plane? This exact model or another? What has been your experience?
Thank you so much for your time. God bless.