Sears Smooth Plane

[Casey Gooding]

Howard, I see we shop on the same Craigslist. I saw that one. I have seen several people lately posting old tools at ridiculous prices.

[Richard Niemiec]

........And that's how I learned that I wasn't likely to ever find anything useful at an estate sale in my neck of the woods......
Jim

Hmmm, Springfield MA is a great area for rust hunting, I wish I had several weekends up there. Its not easy finding tools, many times you come up with nothing but sometimes you hit it just right. Sort of like hunting deer with a bow and arrow.....

[Bruce Branson]

Those handles are brown plastic not wood.I had one.Bought it at a yard sale for $2.Let the younger grandchildren play with in the shop.Would not pay $40 for one.Get a decent plane off of e-Bay.

[Jim Koepke]

I went to a number of them, but never found anything but total junk for woodworking tools.

Yard sales are less likely to draw these sorts of characters, but they're pretty hit or miss too (mostly miss). I decided that, considering I work full time and have 2 small children at home, that paying a reputable dealer $40 for an old Stanley was the best thing for me to do. The hunt for better deals is fun, but I just don't have the time....

For those of you who are finding great tools, keep posting them! It's still fun to read about them!

Jim

It is a lot of work. I have only found a few at estate sales and yard sales. One has to get there too early for my tastes.

The best one can do at estate sales sometimes is to find out if the people who set up the estate sales are looking for people to call when they have tools to sale. Often this does not pan out, but some of them like to have people they can call. When ever I am in a second hand shop or antique store I ask about tools if they are not evident at first glance. I bought a nice Bedrock 604 in a pawn shop for $15. It was a bit rusty and needed a new blade, but I am glad we decided to go look in on them that day. Found a #4-1/2 in an antique store for $30. Found a #4 that was missing the front knob for $7.50 in another antique store. So they are out there.

If enough people know you are looking for tools, they will start to come to you. If you can meet someone who does home clean outs for a realtor or does hauling they may come up with things for you.

There is a collector in my area who used to run ads in the papers for old Stanley tools. I never called him, but I did put a WTB ad for a lathe in a local super market and got a call and a lathe in just a week.

There are many ways to increase your chances.

It is difficult when one is working a regular job and has limited time on the weekend.

That is where eBay comes in. I am amazed at the wide variations in price there. I was just now looking at a type 9 #4 that went for $9.99. Then some go for more than $50.

Of course, when I had more money than time, I was willing to spend a bit more for a plane than I am now.

I guess it is all relative.

jim

[Howard Miller]

Thanks for the feedback.

I will pass on this plane.


Casey, did you go to the recent (~month ago) estate sale in Cario, GA?
There were many tools for sale.

[James Scheffler]

There are many ways to increase your chances.


jim

Jim

Thanks for the suggestions. I've now rounded out my collection of Stanley bench planes, but there is always the chance of finding a better one (like your Bedrock). My kids are at the age now where they will tolerate a few stops at flea markets, antique stores, etc. when we're on trips. (When they were really little, we hesitated to even stop the car because they would wake up!). I'll look when I can, as it is fun. And there are always a few specialty planes that I could use....

However, I have no regrets about buying a few planes from dealers and paying more (the most expensive was $50). That was really the best value when I factored in my time/priorities.

Thanks,
Jim

[Jim Koepke]

However, I have no regrets about buying a few planes from dealers and paying more (the most expensive was $50). That was really the best value when I factored in my time/priorities.

Look at it this way, you can always earn more money, there is no way to replace the time.

Of course, for many of my planes $50 would be a good price for a buyer or for a seller. There are not many I would want to part with for that price. I would rather have the plane than the money.

Happy hunting, learn, love, locate the scent of rust,

jim

[David Gendron]

I have to say that I'm with James S., In my neck of the wood, there is vertualy no used old hand tools kiking around at yard sale, and not much for antique shop... So Ebay and places like Jim Bode tools are the place to go to for me and as James said, I usualy end up paying a little more for my tools! It just seems that now a day on the Bay, you rarely find great deals on old tools?! It seems that most plane rarly sale for less than $40 to $100 for planes... By the way there is a few 4 1/2 stanley(older) at Jim Bode Tools( No afiliation what so ever).

[Casey Gooding]

Howard, I'm afraid I missed that one. I did find a yard sale about two years ago that had probably hundreds of planes. The guy used to be a collector. Lots of parts and pieces, but some nice stuff also. Oh, and it was cheap, too!!!