Let's talk about...woodworking planes and the Stanley #45 combination plane

Brought my Stanley #45 combination plane off the shelf while working on a project and thought it might make for an interesting video. Nickel-plated and sporting rosewood handles, the plane's itself is a beautiful piece of Victorian-era engineering and craftsmanship...even if it's not the best tool for the job.

[@spiffmark]

Great video! Thank you!

[@mrJanniekoen]

I just LOOOOVE my Stanley no 45. I have a sweetheart era with a brass wingnut. I use mine quite alot. I did however had to learn not to tilt the plane and keep it upright and perpendicular to the workpiece. It feels a little top heavy but the trick is to get use to pushing the fence to the work. I still need to make a nice box to store it in.

[@chrisfreemesser]

Roy Underhill on "The Woodwright's Shop" did an episode called (IIRC) "the 11-groove box" where he made a box with removable lid that only required making 11 grooves in some wood. Might be fun to make your 45 box using nothing but your 45 and saw!

[@whittysworkshop982]

The section in the back (rearward of the wingnut for clamping the iron) is for the slitting cutter......there is a stop used in the same place along with the slitter, so you were half right about it being for a depth stop :) I have the Record version of this plane, the 405, I mainly use it as a tongue plane :)

[@jayj4142]

I enjoyed your video. I just bought a 45 to help in my box making.
Can you please tell me who made your holdfast? I would really like to buy a couple like that…I like the design and it looks like it works very well.

[@chrisfreemesser]

That's a Veritas holdfast...you can get them from Lee Valley. And yeah, it works really well :)

[@jayj4142]

@@chrisfreemesser Awesome! Thank you! I hope they still make them…I think Veritas cut back on a lot of items they made before z. Thanks again! Edit: only available for 3/4” holes and mine are 1”. Oh well…lol