Record 04 Plane Review By: I.Ball
Category: Old Smoothing Planes
Extra Info: What is a Smoothing Plane? Smoothing Plane Videos
Manufacturer: Record
Plane Type: Smoothing
Model No: 04
It should be noted this Record 04 plane review is a review of the older
Record 04 planes, it isn't a Record Irwin 04 plane review.
The Record smoothing plane number 04 was / is one of the most popular
of the Record planes range.
The Record 04, at 9 inch (23cm) in length, is a great hand plane
for smoothing work. There are many, many versions of this style of plane
produced by a wide range of manufacturers which is testament to this
type of smoothing plane's success.
Further testament to the planes success and popularity is the length
of time this plane has been produced.
The Record 04 plane was first manufactured
in 1931 by C&J Hampton Ltd of Sheffield, England who successfully
sold the 04 through most of the 20th century until there were a few
take-overs / collaborations with Record Bahco, Record Marples and then
the current maker Record Irwin.
The Record 04 plane was one of the first planes produced
by C&J Hampton Ltd's Record company.
The Record 04 is easily identifiable by the plane markings and the Record blue
finish.
The plane is constructed from high grade cast iron with a crucible cast
tungsten steel cutter and a lever cap made with high grade cast iron
with a plated finish.
The plane was originally fitted with a Rosewood rear handle and front
knob which can be used as an indication the plane was produced pre-1950.
The 04 plane was then fitted with a stained Beech (or selected hardwood)
rear handle and front knob for the second half of the 20th century.
The 04 was then fitted with a plastic compostite handle and knob set
for a brief period before returning back to a hardwood handle set.
The plane has a central frog which is where most of the action happens.
The frog is used as the bed on which the plane blade lays. The angle
at which this is set is 45 degrees.
The frog is equipped with three mechanisms for accurately adjusting the
cut. Firstly the frog has a frog adjuster screw at the base of the rear
of the frog for sliding the frog forwards and backwards to the desired
position which in effect creates the mouth size.
Secondly the frog has a lateral lever adjuster which locates with the
blade. This lever adjusts the blade laterally (side-to-side).
Thirdly the frog is equipped with a blade depth adjuster.
The plane's blade depth adjuster is a notch on the front face of the
frog, just below the bottom of the lateral lever. This notch locates
with a gap in the plane blade and is controlled by
an adjusting wheel (usually brass) found at the rear of the frog.
The depth at which the blade is set is adjusted by turning the adjusting
wheel, this in turn regulates the thickness of the shavings. Turning
the adjusting wheel towards the frog raises the blade, and turning in
the opposite direction towards the rear handle moves the blade downwards.
Note: ensure the lever cap is loosened before making adjustments
to avoid damage.
The plane blade is stiffened with the use of a cap iron. The cap iron
helps reduce chatter and assists in curling the shavings to prevent
splintering the work-piece, particularly when working against the grain.
The plane blade and cap iron are locked in position with the lever cap.
This further reduces chattering. The lever cap has a plated finish which
is usually a nickel plating. The lever cap has a pear shaped hole in
the middle in which a screw runs through, the shape helps prevent the
cap loosening.
As with all the Record bench planes, the Record 04 has universal
interchanging parts. Apart from the plane bodies, the Record 04 smoothing
plane and the Record 05 jack plane parts are the same.
Weight: 1.70kg (3 3/4lbs)
Body and frog: high grade cast iron
Lever cap: high grade cast iron with a plated finish
Cap iron: best quality steel
Depth adjuster wheel/nut: brass
Handle and Knob: Rosewood (pre 1950) or Stained Beech
Plane finish: blue
Record 04 Plane Blade / Cutter
Material: crucible cast tungsten steel
Width: 51mm (2 inch)
Record 04 Plane Markings
"Record" - (raised) found on the top face at the very front of the plane
"No 04" - (raised) found on the top face at the front of the plane between the blade and front knob
"Made in England" - (raised) found on the top face at the rear of the plane
"Record" - set in relief on the lever cap face
Weight: 1.70kg (3 3/4lbs)
Body and frog: high grade cast iron
Lever cap: high grade cast iron with a plated finish
Cap iron: best quality steel
Depth adjuster wheel/nut: brass
Handle and Knob: Stained Beech
Plane finish: blue
Record 04 Plane Blade / Cutter
Material: crucible cast tungsten steel
Width: 51mm (2 inch)
Record 04 Plane Markings
"Record" - (raised) found on the top face at the very front of the plane
"No 04" - (raised) found on the top face at the front of the plane between the blade and front knob
"Made in England" - (raised) found on the top face at the rear of the plane
"Record" - set in relief on the lever cap face
Weight: 1.70kg (3 3/4lbs)
Body and frog: high grade cast iron
Lever cap: high grade cast iron with a plated finish
Cap iron: best quality steel
Depth adjuster wheel/nut: brass
Handle and Knob: Stained Beech
Plane finish: blue
Record Marples 04 Plane Blade / Cutter
Material: crucible cast tungsten steel
Width: 51mm (2 inch)
Record Marples 04 Plane Markings
"Record Marples" - (raised) found on the top face at the very front of the plane
"No 04" - (raised) found on the top face at the front of the plane between the blade and front knob
"Made in England" - (raised) found on the top face at the rear of the plane
"Record" - set in relief on the lever cap face
Length:
230mm (9 inch)
Width:
1931 - present day
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