Clico Clifton 420 Review By: I.Ball
Category: Old Shoulder Planes
Extra Info: What is a Shoulder Plane? Shoulder Plane Videos
Manufacturer: Clifton
Plane Type: Shoulder Rebate
Model No: 420
This is a review of the Clifton plane number 420 produced by Clico [Sheffield]
Tooling Ltd of Fell Road Industrial Estate, Sheffield, England.
The Clifton 420 was manufactured by Clico until 2014 when the Clifton
range, including the Clifton 420 shoulder rebate plane, was taken over by the
British saw maker, Thomas Flinn & Co. who are also a Sheffield based
tool company. The Clifton plane 420 is still available to
buy new today from various tool shops, for more info about this
see the
New Clifton 420 Plane Review.
The Clifton plane 420 is an 8" (200mm) adjustable shoulder rebate
plane with a fixed nose / mouth.
The one-piece plane body is constructed from quality grey cast iron
with the sides and sole being precision ground flat and square with
each other.
The plane can be used left or right handed and can be laid perfectly
flat and used on either of its sides to trim rebates, shoulder lines
and tenons.
The plane has curved areas on top of the plane offering added comfort.
The Clifton 420 shoulder rebate plane is equipped with a blade adjusting mechanism.
The blade adjuster control is located at the rear of the plane in the form of
a knurled nut. The adjuster is used to control the depth at which the blade
will cut.
The plane is fitted with a shouldered high carbon Clifton 420 plane blade. The
cutting edge is 3/4" (19mm) wide with a bevel edge. The top of the blade has a
slot to allow the blade adjuster to locate with the blade. The blade sits in
the plane with the bevel edge side facing upwards.
The blade is held firmly in place with the use of the securing cap / lever cap.
The cap locks the blade in place by locating the securing cap into the two
notches in the plane body and then turning until tight the knurled securing
wheel located on the underside of the securing cap. The securing cap is constructed
with unbreakable malleable iron.
The plane was presented in a dark blue Clifton cardboard box with white writing
detailing the plane details
The Clifton 420 shoulder plane is based on the
Record 042 shoulder plane
which was produced by Record in the 1930's - 1970's.
Clico was originally started in 1983 when Clico (Sheffield) Tooling Limited was
formed after a Management buy-out from Record Ridgway Tools where they gained
rights to designs for Aerospace cutting tools including staff and machinery.
Clico went on four years later to begin a plane making department when they hired
the previous manager of the Record Plane Making Section. The first plane they
took on of the Record plane designs was the
Record 405 multiplane
which was used to create Clifton's version of the 405. From there Clico went
on to gradually increase their plane and tool range.
Body: grey cast iron
Lever cap: unbreakable malleable iron
Plane finish: bright ground
Clifton 420 Plane Blade / Cutter
Material: High Quality Oil Hardened Tool Steel
Hardness: 59-61 Rockwell C
Cutting Edge Grind (Primary): 25 degrees
Cutting Edge Grind (Secondary): 30 degrees
Width (bottom): 19mm (3/4 inch)
Top Of Blade Shape: Squared, with open window slot
Clifton 420 Plane Markings
"Clifton, England" - located on both the right and left hand side towards the front inside the meshed oval.
"420" - located on one side towards the back.
Width: 19mm (3/4 inch)
Length: 200mm (8 inch)
Weight: 1100g (2 1/2lb)
<1991 - 2014
Clifton 420 rabbet plane
Clifton 420 shoulder rabbet plane
....
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