All,
I need a low angle block plane; therefore, I have searched the internet and various other places for one – new or old. Now for my question: I run a remodeling company and I personally wouldn’t use a Stanley tool if it fell into my lap. I believe that the quality of their tools is not what I consider durable; hense, I don’t buy any. I also run a woodworking shop & am in need of a few planes. So what is the most common manufactrure of used planes, but Stanley. So I am now in a quandry and my question: Are Stanley older planes, like those that I find on Bob Kaune’s web site, good, reliable planes? My next question: Why should I buy a used plane vs. a new one? I can spend just under $100 for a new Lee Valley or a used Stanley low angle block plane from Bob Kaune. (I am not quite sure that I need an L-N anything, at least not yet but someday I will purchase a plane from them.) Thanks for any input!
dlb
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Replies
The older Stanley planes are decent tools but I'm not surprised that you don't want any of the modern ones. Bob Kaune caters mostly to collectors as far as I know and what you are looking for is going to be a fairly common plane. If I were looking for a good used Stanley block plane I would go to the hand tool forum at Woodnet and ask if anyone is willing to sell one or Sawmill creek also has a hand tool area. I'd stay away from ebay until I had a little better feel for the market. I don't have any Lee Valley planes and can't really say anything about them. Record made a low angle 60 1/2 block plane that is pretty much identical to the Stanley and probably Sargent as well.
I picked up a Sargent 606 the other day at a yard for six dollars. Spent an hour or so tuning it up and it does great.
Kenp
I agree. New Stanley tools are junk. But the old planes are different. They were made when people depended on good hand tools to make their living. There were no power tools. Once power tools came along people found it easier to buy a thickness planer and an sander to finish a piece of wood rather than plane it. (Using a power tool requires less time and less skill than a hand tool, but the finish is better with a handtool, which is why people keep using them.)
Bob Kaune caters to collectors. His planes are too expensive to use.
Here's my advice: Buy a Lie-Neilsen if you want the best tool avaiable for a reasonable price. Buy a Veratis if you want a good tool and want to save a bit over the Lie-Neilsen. Contact Peter Leach and tell him you are looking for a servicable Stanley low angle block plane; here's an email address: [email protected] (Look around http://www.supertool.com for information on old Stanley planes. Especially the Blood & Gore area.) Peter will save you more money and you'll have a workable plane. Look on eBay and plan on spending some time learning to clean, repair and sharpen an old Stanley plane. Don't bother looking on eBay for Lie-Neilsen or Veratis planes. There are no Veratis planes, and the Lie-Neilsens you find sell for 98% of new price.
The other option is to look at yard sales and flea markets. I scored a Stanley #5 in good shape, a Stanley #10 carriage maker's plane in not too good shape, and a Sarget copy of a Stanley #9 block plane all for $20. (The Sarget is a Piece of JUNK, but I'll make it work since I currently don't have a block plane.)
Mr. Leach's first name is Patrick, not Peter, FWIW.
Sounds like you're hurdling fast down that slippery slope of old plane addiction! Welcome to the club.
Samson,Ouch, you're right. Patrick not Peter. I think I was thinking Peter Lynch, the stock fund manager. Oops.And yes, I am getting addicted to planes. Mmmmmmmm..., planes. :)
Wadda ya mean slipping. I slipped a long time ago.Dick
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