Clifton Smoothing Plane - No. 4


The Verdict
Clifton 4 Plane Review By: I.Ball
Category: New Smoothing Planes
Manufacturer: Thomas Flinn & Co.
Plane Type: Smoothing
Model No: 4
This Clifton smoothing plane review is of the current Clifton
4 plane manufactured by Thomas Flinn & Co, Sheffield, England.
The plane had previously been made by a tool company called Clico (Sheffield)
Tooling Ltd until 2014 when Thomas Flinn and Co took on the Clifton
tools part of the business.
The Thomas Flinn version of the number 4 is made in almost identical circumstances
to the Clico version including being made by the same skilled personnel:
“We will still be using the same great production staff to manufacture
the Clifton planes, so the knowledge and expertise will continue as before”.
Please see the
old Clifton 4 plane review
for more information about
the Clico (Sheffield) Tooling Ltd Clifton smoothing plane number
4 (virtually identical other than the colour, blade type and the box).

The Clifton smoothing plane number 4 is a high quality, accurate tool
with smoothly operating parts which was designed to be ready to use from
the moment the plane was taken from the box.
The plane incorporates the design of the ‘BEDROCK’ frog and frog seating
pad, a two piece cap iron similar in design to the Record SS (Stay Set)
planes, an extra thick high carbon steel blade, a ground flat sole within
the British Standard of 0.075mm (0.003”), beautiful Bubinga rear handle
and front knob, and finished with a graphite grey finish.
The plane is presented in a brown cardboard box with the Clifton logo
on it.
Clifton Plane Blade
The Clifton plane blade is made from 01 steel which is then cryogenically
treated to offer a longer lasting edge. This treatment
process gives the blade the ‘60-62 Rockwell C’ standard of hardness.
This process gives the blade a better edge than most blades and it
means it holds it edge for longer. There is extra peace of mind with
the Clifton blades as the hardness is individually checked on each one.
The blades are accurately ground and are 50% thicker than normal blades
resulting in a much more rigid blade.
The blade is given the Clifton logo laser mark at the top of the blade.

Clifton Frog
The plane has a cast iron frog and frog seating of ‘BEDROCK’ design.
This design has a frog with a fully machined, full face underside which
marries with a seating pad on the body that also has a fully machined,
full face. The frog also has a fully machined upper face.
This combination maintains the perfect stability of the frog which in
turn creates a stable setting for the plane blade.
The combination of the frog, frog seating, extra thick plane blade and
the two piece cap iron produces an amazingly rigid and effective cutter
and bed mechanism.
Plane Construction


Width:
Length Of Sole:
Mouth Width:
Cast Thickness:
Handle and Knob: Bubinga (African Rosewood)
Plane finish: Graphite Grey
Clifton 4 Plane Blade / Cutter
Width: 51mm (2 inch)
Blade Thickness: 3mm (1/8 inch)
Top Of Blade Shape: slightly rounded
Material: 01 steel - cryogenically treated
Hardness: 60-62 Rockwell C
Blade Markings: Cyrogenic Blade, Clifton, Sheffield, England
Plane Markings

"Clifton" - found at the very front of the plane.
"No 4" - found at the front of the plane between the mouth and the front knob.
"Clifton, England" - found at the rear of the plane.
"Made In England" - found at the rear of the plane.
"Clifton" - found on the lever cap face.
Manufactured Dates

2014 - Today
Clifton 4 Plane Updates / News

The Clifton 4 Plane - News Updates:
2014 – Thomas Flinn & Co take over the making of the Clifton
4 planes after buying the Clifton range of tools from Clico, the same staff and
machinery that had been used at Clico is used. The planes are supplied in the same
blue cardboard boxes as when Clico made them.
2015 – A brown Clifton cardboard box is used.
2016 – The two-piece cap iron is changed to a one piece cap iron.
Your Say..

References
- Thomas Flinn & Co.
Disclaimer
(i) Please always refer to and follow the manufacturer’s instructions / guidelines /
safety notices / cautions and similar notices as the manufacturer’s instructions
may contain important information on your safety and the good health of your tool,
something to which this review's scope does not guarantee to extend to.
(ii) This review may give warning(s) / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines given
in good faith however any such information should not be solely relied upon and seen
as the exhaustive list of warnings / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines. Always
refer to disclaimer note (i) as the definitive source for information on your safety and the
good health of your tool.
Use Of Content
Enjoy viewing the encyclopedia of tools.
If you use info such as dates or photos from FindMyTool.co.uk for certain online
auction sites, forums, video footage, websites and any other forms of media,
please spread the word so others know where to find the information.
Please see our terms if using more than a few dates
or photos.
Popular Old Tool Reviews
Chesterman Tape MeasureDisston Saw D8
Marples Brace - Ultimatum
Rabone Square 1902
Record 09 1/2 Plane
Record Router 071
Record 405 Plane
Spear & Jackson Saw 88
Stanley 45 Plane
Stanley 50 Plane
Stanley 13-050 Plane
Stanley Router 71
Stanley Drill 803
Norris Plane A5
Sash Fillister Plane