Clifton Nº5½ – Wide Jack Plane

The Clifton No. 5½ is a wide Jack plane, designed for preparing and leveling wood on larger surfaces. With a 60 mm wide iron, it allows for the removal of wider chips and greater stability compared to the traditional No. 5.

This plane occupies an intermediate position between roughing planes and finishing planes, making it an extremely versatile tool on the woodworking workbench.

Produced in Sheffield by Thomas Flinn & Co. under the Clifton brand, it combines traditional manufacturing methods with high-precision machining, resulting in a robust and reliable tool.

Like other Clifton planes, it comes practically ready to use straight out of the box, although many woodworkers prefer to sharpen the iron before first use.

Construction and materials

The body and frame are made of high-quality gray cast iron, with all critical surfaces meticulously machined. The sole and sides are precision ground, ensuring stability and smooth gliding over wood.

The rear handle and front button are made of carefully shaped, sanded, and sealed walnut, providing comfort and control during work.

The cutting iron is produced from cryogenically treated and hardened O1 steel to between 60–62 HRC . Approximately 3.8–3.9 mm thick , it offers greater rigidity and stability during cutting. The one-piece counter-iron ensures a firm and effective clamping.

Several components are manufactured from polished brass and polished stainless steel , including screws and the adjustment wheel, ensuring durability and smooth operation over time.

Bedrock System

Clifton planes use a system based on the well-known Bedrock design, originally used in some of the older Stanley planes. In this system, the frog sits on a fully machined surface in the plane body, creating an extremely stable base for the cutting iron.

This design increases the overall rigidity, reduces vibrations, and allows for extremely controlled cuts.

Another advantage of this system is that it allows adjusting the planer jaw opening without disassembling the iron assembly , making it easier to fine-tune the tool according to the type of wood or the type of cut desired.

Main features

– Wide Jack planer for preparing and leveling wood
– Width of the iron: 60 mm (2 3/8″)
– Cryogenically treated O1 steel iron
– Iron hardness: 60–62 HRC
– Iron thickness: 3.8–3.9 mm
– Body made of precision-machined gray cast iron
Walnut handles
– Components made of polished brass and stainless steel
Bedrock-type frog system for maximum stability.
– Precise adjustment of the mouth opening
– Made in Sheffield, England