I recently picked up a Stanley N4 plane for just $12 from a neighbor, but it has a broken front knob and the rod is damaged where the screw goes. I thought about replacing the rod with a suitable bolt and making my own knob. The trouble is, I'm not sure what size fillet or bolt I should be looking for. The folks at the hardware store were nice, but didn't have much helpful advice. I still have the tote rod, which uses the same fillet for reference. Does anyone have suggestions on how to fix this?
3 Answers
For older Stanley planes, especially the knobs and totes, you’re generally looking at a 7/32"-20 Whitworth pattern for the screws. You can find replacement parts from sellers specializing in vintage tools, often on places like eBay. Just search for 'vintage Stanley plane parts' and you should find what you need.
The common screw thread for the knob and tote is usually 12-20, not to be confused with 1/2-20. If I were you, I'd look for an original rod and just snag any other necessary parts from a site like Just Plane Fun. Trust me, I've restored tons of planes and never felt the need for fancy tap or die sets—better to buy what you need without overcomplicating things!
If you're feeling crafty, turning a new knob from hardwood on a wood lathe is pretty quick and easy! Just remember, the screw you’ll use is a slotted head type with straight sides, so keep an eye on the thread types—some can be quite unique. Unfortunately, I can't give you exact sizing without a male thread checking tool.