At the tool show I visited in Oct in Sonoma CA, I picked up a vintage Stanley scrub plane for $60. I liked it's light weight relative to the Vertias scrub plane I already owned.
After I got it home, I noticed the handle was a bit loose on the plane. I tried to tighten it but that didn't seem to help. I was trying to be careful because I didn't want to bear down too much on it and crack the handle. When I took it apart, I noticed that the threaded rod had a slight bend in it. I figured that was the likely cause. Ralph, from the Accidental Woodworker blog, was kind enough to send me one that was straight.
As I was putting it in, I noticed resistance as I tightened it. The handle was still loose with the new thread. I figured the resistance from removing the old one was due it being bent. This made me think the hole in the handle was misaligned. Took a round file to the hole to smooth it out. Didn't help. Maybe the hole at the top wasn't center properly so I took a gouge and made it a bit bigger. Didn't help. There is a divot in the bottom of the handle that registers a metal dimple in the plane itself. Made the divot a bit bigger. Didn't help. Took a hand plane to smooth the bottom the handle in case there was a slight but/hump in it. Didn't help.
When I say it didn't help, I mean that there is a bit less wiggle in the handle, but it isn't completely wiggle free. It's useable at this point. I'm just stumped as to what could be causing this issue. Any ideas are welcome. I'm not actively working on fixing it anymore. At the next antique tool show in Feb/Mar near Monterey CA I will ask folks there if they have any idea. I am sure I will eventually get it sorted out.
