Clifton Smoothing Plane - No. 4

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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.

1.

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

2.

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.

3.

Manufactured Dates

2014 - Today

4.

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.

5.

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References

- Thomas Flinn & Co.