Just for grins I was looking at bedrocks on eBay this morning and was pretty stunned to see how low the bids were. I haven’t followed the auctions to the end, but there were very few planes over $100 with less than 12 hours left in the auction–still plenty of time for sniping. Seems as though a 604 in good shape could be had for around $100 or less, and a 605 for around $75. Is there a market glut? What has driven the price so low? I knew that prices had fallen through the floor for the Bailey patterns, but not Bedrocks. Tom
“Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand”
Replies
Follow the prices to the end, otherwise you won't really know the market. There is almost always significant bidding activity at the end.
Good luck, Tom.
when you search for Bedrock planes on eBay, click on Advanced Search and select Completed Auctions.. Then you'll get how much Bedrock planes sold for the past few days.. it's more accurate than looking on what's ending soon.
I did just that--thanks. The prices are somewhat lower than I remember from a few years ago. I just wonder why, no reason. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
I'm not sure either.....maybe the gaining popularity of Lie-Nielsen planes have made people less interested in cleaning up an old Bedrock.
I sold 6 Bedrock planes earlier this year, and broke the bank, imho. All but one sold for way more than I thought they would.
Jeff
I'm going to ask what may be a dumb question, but what are the significant differences/advantages between the Bedrock design and the Bailey planes?
Hopefully the answer will be beneficial to ALL.
Regards
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
BobMy understanding is the frog design of the bedrock is superior to the Bailey style--much more solid contact and the frog is easier to adjust. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
I think the castings on bedrock planes were a little beefier.
And to elaborate on what Tom said, the frog is adjustable without removing the blade, - thus you can close the mouth opening without having to remove and then replace the blade to check the opening repeatedly.
Lee
Hi Lee,
Those clamps are working out great for me.
I'd sure like to add some Bedrocks to the herd. Guess I need to broaden my horizons.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
JeffI did the post auction search and saw that the basic 605 and 604's are going anywhere from $50-100, while anything like a really old 603 in great shape will go for excess of $300. Saw a 604 1/2 that went for over $600. Glad you did well in your sales. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
Tom,
I have been watching planes, chisels, handsaws, etc. on ebay for too many years, on an almost daily basis. It has been my observation that time of year makes a difference for all but the high end items.
My conclusion is that summer is a good time to buy and not a good time to sell. Prices / the market will go up through the fall and peak around Christmas. Hold through the winter.
All subject to some ups and downs, but those are my general observations.
Alan - planesaw
Thanks, Alan. I am not really looking to buy any bedrocks right now--I bought 8-10 planes off of eBay several years ago--5-6, and paid around $40 for a Bailey style #4 in decent shape and an old casting. I paid around $60 for my #7--great old casting with a low knob--great plane. Since then, I check back and snoop, but haven't bought in over 5 years--not planes any way! I've seen or thought I did, prices falling for the Bailey's and now it seems to me the bedrocks are coming down. Perception is funny. I just wondered if the collectors have filled their quotas; are users getting what they want without getting gouged...etc. I wish I'd starting buying 750 and 720 chisels 6 years ago--those prices are just silly! I have a friend who has a mint set of 750's that he's saving to sell on eBay--should fetch around $800 from a collector. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
Tom,
I should have included in my earlier posting that I do agree with you somewhat that prices overall are coming down. The demand for the typical / average / user plane or tool is not as high as it was. The high end, rare, etc., prices seem to be holding or even going up.
Alan - planesaw
<<.. was pretty stunned to see how low the bids were..>
Ebay has summer doldrums. The prices rise when days are shorter and the weather keeps people indoors at their computers.
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