Reviewed By: I.Ball
Category: Old Jack Planes
Manufacturer: Stanley
Plane Type: Jack
Model No: 605
The Stanley Bedrock number 605 is a jack plane
from the Stanley bench plane range.
If you have or looking for a Bedrock 605 with a series of grooves in
the sole, see the
Stanley 605C Bedrock plane review
The Stanley Bedrock 605 plane is an improved version of the
Stanley 5 plane
with the core improvement being the Bedrock plane had an innovatively
designed
Bedrock frog.
The easily identifiable features of this Bedrock plane are:
- Plane Sides - the plane sides have a flattened edge on the raised
part of each side.
- Bedrock Lever Cap - The lever cap boasts the 'BEDROCK' name.
The Stanley Bedrock 605 is made with an iron body, frog, lever cap,
cap iron, cutter, lateral adjuster, rear wooden handle and front knob.
The body is constructed from grey cast iron with machined and ground sides and sole.
The machining and grounding ensured the plane body was originally flat and true.
The top-side of the plane body is finished with the black finish which is synonymous
with the Stanley plane range.
The central part of the plane is the cast iron frog on which the blade rests, the
frog position / throat is set, the lateral lever pivots on and the depth adjuster
operates.
The frog face is set at 45 degrees, therefore the blade is set at a 45 degree angle.
The frog can be used to adjust the mouth thickness at which the shavings pass through.
It can be used to set the mouth anywhere from a fine mouth for fine smoothing, to
an open mouth for coarse work.
The frog on this Bedrock plane was made to a new and unique design at the time,
a design which is now used by a number of the top plane makers such as Clifton and
Lie Nielson.
The Bedrock frog design allows the user to adjust the frog position without the
need to remove the plane blade and cap.
The plane's lateral blade adjusting lever is located just behind the top of the
blade / at the top of the frog.
This lever pivots side-to-side which in turn adjusts the cutter side-ways; this
is useful for aligning the blade to ensure it is not skewed.
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
to the plane.
The number 605 plane is fitted with a 51mm (2 inch) wide steel cutter.
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.
These Stanley planes are fitted with a comfortably shaped hardwood handle and knob.
I had thought the handle and knobs on the Bedrock planes were only made from rosewood
however I have seen a 1930's tool catalogue which says the handles were made with
a mahogany finish.
One final point about the Bedrock 605 plane is that it was slightly heavier
than Stanley 5 plane.
Body and frog:
grey cast iron
Lever cap:
grey cast iron with a plated finish
Cap iron:
best quality steel
Blade:
best quality steel
Depth adjuster wheel/nut:
brass
Handle and knob:
rosewood
Handle and knob (late):
mahogany finish
Plane finish:
black
"Bedrock" - found on the top face at the very front of the plane.
"No 605" - found on the top face towards the rear of the plane.
"Bedrock" - found on the lever cap face.
1898> - 1934>
....
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