December 24, 20169 yr So a friend of mine finally found his inherited Stanley 55 in his cellar, complete with 4 boxes of cutters. I volunteered to clean it up for him as it is grubby and caked with dirt and some surface rust on the rods, screws, etc.... Yeah, yeah..I want to play with it after I'm done...okay...I admit it... (1) I'm having a bit of trouble taking apart the adjusting screw (27 and 28 on diagram)...has a pin at the bottom that goes into the cutter and a knurl knob that makes the adjustment. I'm thinking I don't want to take the pin out...mainly cuz I'll probably lose it...but it doesn't look like it will come apart without doing that. Any of you 55 owners find a Houdini method of taking that apart...? (2) My other minor headache is the tiny cutter (85 on diagram) on the bottom of the left fence/body. A small screw keeps it aligned and the slot in the screw head is worn beyond any screwdriver being able to grab it. I'd like to take it out and put an edge on it...it is very dull and I'm sure it won't do it's job of cutting a good edge. Ok...ya caught me again...yes, I'm hoping he'll think what a wonderful job I did and give it to me... Edited November 21, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston tags added
December 24, 20169 yr 3 hours ago, Nickp said: Ok...ya caught me again...yes, I'm hoping he'll think what a wonderful job I did and give it to me...
December 24, 20169 yr On the "little cutter" it is called a spur/nicker. I had to use an easy out to remove one of mine. Then buy a new bolt and spur and hope I didn't mess the thread up too badly......I did. Remade a bolt to fit the now enlarged hole. New slot was cut, all extra metal ground away. I re-used the spur. On the depth adjuster bolt...look carefully, and you will see a pin that rides in the slot on the bolt. You might be able to remove that little pin, and rotate the bolt to get it out. I just cleaned mine in place with a wire wheel. Of course, mine is a #45 and not the #55.....
December 24, 20169 yr Popular Post 6 hours ago, Nickp said: Ok...ya caught me again...yes, I'm hoping he'll think what a wonderful job I did and give it to me... not a chance Nick... and if I don't get it back in a timely manner Gramps will be held accountable...
December 24, 20169 yr Popular Post I've long wanted a 55 and have yet to find one at a price I'll pay. Roy was explaining explaining the difference between it and a 45..his conclusion: "well, it's 10 more". That aside, another 55 I would like to have is a Chevy 2 door hardtop. Would love to see pictures after you get it rehabbed.
December 24, 20169 yr 6 hours ago, Stick486 said: not a chance Nick... and if I don't get it back in a timely manner Gramps will be held accountable... Huh? Am I being held hostage here? Did I doze off and not see the end of the movie again? Why is it always the "alien" that takes the rap 1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis, Jr said: I've long wanted a 55 and have yet to find one at a price I'll pay. Roy was explaining explaining the difference between it and a 45..his conclusion: "well, it's 10 more". That aside, another 55 I would like to have is a Chevy 2 door hardtop. Would love to see pictures after you get it rehabbed. I remember my dad traded in his 1950 Ford for a new 55 2dr, hdtp Belaire...Turquoise & white...my first car was same color only a 1956 Belaire...wish I had those back
December 24, 20169 yr Author Yeah...the good ole days...my 55 is long gone. Traded it for a 53 Merc with a big 430 motor in it...who knew...
December 24, 20169 yr Author 15 hours ago, steven newman said: On the "little cutter" it is called a spur/nicker. I had to use an easy out to remove one of mine. Then buy a new bolt and spur and hope I didn't mess the thread up too badly......I did. Remade a bolt to fit the now enlarged hole. New slot was cut, all extra metal ground away. I re-used the spur. On the depth adjuster bolt...look carefully, and you will see a pin that rides in the slot on the bolt. You might be able to remove that little pin, and rotate the bolt to get it out. I just cleaned mine in place with a wire wheel. Of course, mine is a #45 and not the #55..... That's what I'm afraid I may wind up doing...and afraid for the same reason. I have the tools I need to get it back in shape if I screw it up but just trying to avoid it. I think I will take your recommendation and try to clean it with a brass brush...thanks, Steve...
December 24, 20169 yr Author 12 hours ago, Stick486 said: not a chance Nick... and if I don't get it back in a timely manner Gramps will be held accountable... You're gonna wake Gramps up and then what...
December 24, 20169 yr Author By the way...except for the cutter that was stuck in the body, the rest are clean and sharp...thank goodness for that. I couldn't imagine myself doing the dowel and paper trick on the faces... The cutter that was in the body is rusted...gonna need some TLC... Maybe if I take enough time to clean it up he'll forget I have it...
December 24, 20169 yr Re: Sharpening cutters.....All I have done so far to mine has been a oil stone to flatten the backs. The "bad" part of sandpaper on a stick, is that you run the risk of changing a profile just a hair. I usually just stone the backs and call it good.
December 24, 20169 yr 13 minutes ago, Nickp said: You're gonna wake Gramps up and then what... oh so many ideas.... Edited December 24, 20169 yr by Stick486
December 24, 20169 yr 5 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said: Huh? Am I being held hostage here? no... accountable... 5 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said: Did I doze off and not see the end of the movie again? yup.... 5 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said: Why is it always the "alien" that takes the rap it's in the script...
December 24, 20169 yr Author 33 minutes ago, steven newman said: Re: Sharpening cutters.....All I have done so far to mine has been a oil stone to flatten the backs. The "bad" part of sandpaper on a stick, is that you run the risk of changing a profile just a hair. I usually just stone the backs and call it good. Thanks, Steve...the cutter I'm referring to may have some rust pit marks on the face. I took it out of the body and sprayed it with PB Blaster just to get all the surface rust loose...it's soaking... Than I'm thinking I will wipe it down with a rag to see how bad it is (under a glass). If it's not bad I'll do the backs as you suggested on all of them. If for no other reason than to make sure they're flat. Thanks again...
December 25, 20169 yr You will find...not that many are indeed flat. At least along the entire length. For some reason know only to Stanley, they all seem to have a slight curve to them. Supposed to help cut down on the cutter wanting to chatter. Then, went you tighten the holder down on them, that is where the bend is, gives a bit more "grip" to things. I just flatten the first 1/4 to 1/2" back from the edges. I then wire wheel the rest of the cutters clean.
December 25, 20169 yr 9 hours ago, steven newman said: For some reason know only to Stanley, they all seem to have a slight curve to them. I checked the knives on my 55 (circa 1910/15) and the 45 (type 7 - 1902)... they are flat... the box of blanks for the 55 are flat and some of the knife blanks for the 45 (2boxes) are curved and some are flat..
December 25, 20169 yr 2 hours ago, Stick486 said: I checked the knives on my 55 (circa 1910/15) and the 45 (type 7 - 1902)... they are flat... the box of blanks for the 55 are flat and some of the knife blanks for the 45 (2boxes) are curved and some are flat.. Buy 'em new did you?
December 25, 20169 yr 14 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said: Buy 'em new did you? Yup... had to wait like forever for them to make it to the store shelves...
December 25, 20169 yr Author Popular Post 3 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said: Buy 'em new did you? Stick was the first one to pre-order them...no phone yet, rails had not yet been put down, pony express was still local and you know how slow the stage coaches were. I think he said it might have been a noisy ride except he was still having hearing problems from the Big Bang...notice how he doesn't say anything about his sinus problems caused by the cosmic dust prior to the galaxy being formed...?
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