Stanley Plane No.3 Review By: I.Ball
Category: Old Smoothing Planes
Extra Info: What is a Smoothing Plane? Smoothing Plane Videos
Manufacturer: Stanley
Plane Type: Smoothing
Model No: 3
The Stanley smoothing plane number 3 has been produced by Stanley for
nearly 150 years.
During this exceptionally long manufacture period the Stanley 3 plane
design has remained very similar.
There have been slight alterations to the design and the materials used
through the Stanley number 3's history which have been classed as improvements
and refinements.
In terms of classifying these changes for historical classification,
these refinements relate to which 'Type' the plane is e.g. the first
design of the Stanley 3 plane is referred to as the 'Type 1' model.
The Stanley number 3 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 (or pretty 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. This is adjusted by turning the frog adjusting screw which
is located at the base of the rear of the frog (below the blade depth
adjusting wheel).
Note: ensure the frog screws are loosened so the frog can move backwards
and forwards when the frog adjusting screw is turned
(the frog screws are the two screws located in depressions on the frog
bed where the blade sits).
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.
The number 3 plane is fitted with a 45mm (1 3/4 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.
The lever cap has a hole in the middle in which a screw runs through
from the frog.
With the exception of the earlier planes / lever caps, the lever cap
has a pear shaped hole in the middle in which a screw runs through,
this pear shape was designed to help prevent the cap loosening.
These Stanley planes are fitted with a comfortably shaped handle and
knob.
The handles and knobs can be made from hardwood or a hard plastic composite.
The wooden handles are quite desirable as they feel natural and more
comfortable.
Planes with Rosewood handles and knobs are highly sought
after, with numerous choosing to 'pimp-up' their plane by buying a new
Rosewood plane handle set. The plastic composite handles have the advantage
of being very hard to break/damage.
The Stanley smoothing plane number 3 is in the region of 8 inch
depending on the age/type of plane.
As with all the Stanley bench planes, the Stanley 3 has universal
interchanging parts.
Body and frog:
cast iron
Lever cap:
cast iron with a plated finish
Cap iron:
best quality steel
Blade:
best quality steel
Depth adjuster wheel/nut:
brass
Handle and knob :
hardwood (usually Beech)
Plane finish:
black
Stanley 3 Plane Markings
"No 3" - found on the top face at the very front of the plane.
"Bailey" - found on the top face between front knob and blade.
"Made In England" or "Made In USA" - found on the top face between rear handle and blade.
"Stanley" - found on the lever cap face.
Body and frog:
cast iron
Lever cap:
cast iron with a plated finish
Cap iron:
best quality steel
Blade:
best quality steel
Depth adjuster wheel/nut:
alloy
Handle and knob :
hardwood (usually Beech)
Plane finish:
black
Stanley 3 Plane Markings
"No 3" - found on the top face at the very front of the plane.
"Bailey" - found on the top face between front knob and blade.
"Made In England" or "Made In USA" - found on the top face between rear handle and blade.
"Stanley" - found on the lever cap face.
Body and frog:
cast iron
Lever cap:
cast iron with a plated finish
Cap iron:
best quality steel
Blade:
best quality steel
Depth adjuster wheel/nut:
brass
Handle and knob :
plastic
Plane finish:
black
Stanley 3 Plane Markings
"No 3" - found on the top face at the very front of the plane.
"Bailey" - found on the top face between front knob and blade.
"Made In England" or "Made In USA" - found on the top face between rear handle and blade.
"Stanley" - found on the lever cap face.
<1880 - Today
Stanley Smoothing Plane no. 3
Stanley Bench Plane no. 3
Stanley Wood-Work Plane no. 3
Stanley Hand Plane no. 3
Stanley 3 Plane
Further information on the Stanley plane number 3 can be found in the many Stanley tool catalogues produced from the 19th Century through to the current day. Additional information to this Stanley number 3 plane review can also be found in many different trade catalogues as well as reference books which are dedicated to discussing Stanley tools.
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