Need some Advice

[Karl Laustrup]

I've got a chance to go to an auction this Saturday. They will have a large number of planes. Go to http://www.dairylandauction.com/auc_search.cfm?ID=289 .

Being totally new to this "neander" thing, but wanting to get involved, I was wondering if any of the planes listed are worthwhile? And if so at what price? of course depending on condition.

I really want to learn the proper use of a plane, or planes, as the case may be.
One thing I don't need is a real fixer upper right now. I don't even have any way to sharpen them right now. Or should I forget about these and just get new ones when I'm ready?

Thanks in advance.

[Steve Wargo]

If you're planning on using them, any of the bench planes listed are fine if they're in good shape, and if the price is right. You hate to spend $25-$35 on a smoother if you have 3 or 4 hours into getting it into a usable condition. Then if you decide to put a Hock iron into it your now up to $65 or $75. You're already half way to a new LV, (I don't own any, but they are considerably cheaper than the LN's). What I'm trying to say is if the price is right and they're clean they are all usable bench planes. Now if you can get the 603 or 605 for a good price then you'll have totally scored. They are a much better plane, and all the technical reasoning behind it is listed in The Handplane Book by Garrett Hack. He has a very nice section on why the Bedrock is a superior design. If it wasn't the why do all the quality plane makers today use the same principles. I can't comment on the Miller's patents, or metal plow planes. I hope this helps. Just my $.02

[Tom LaRussa]

I've got a chance to go to an auction this Saturday. They will have a large number of planes. Go to http://www.dairylandauction.com/auc_search.cfm?ID=289 .

Karl,

Are these being auctioned as a single lot, or individually?

[Karl Laustrup]

Karl,

Are these being auctioned as a single lot, or individually?

I'm not sure Tom, but my guess would be they will be auctioned individually, or at very least two or three as a "lot".

Also, thanks Steve. Being "new" to this stuff you have given me some insight as to what to look for.

[Tom LaRussa]

I'm not sure Tom, but my guess would be they will be auctioned individually, or at very least two or three as a "lot".

Also, thanks Steve. Being "new" to this stuff you have given me some insight as to what to look for.

Okay, well, here comes a long answer.

Keep in mind that I'm no expert. I'm just a guy with too much time on his hands and a fairly fast internet connection.

I copied the list of Stanleys from the website you linked. Whoever these came from was either a very hardcore neander cabinet maker or a collector. Most of these planes are in the "collectible" and or esoteric cateories. Many of them would also make very nice users for every day use. Some can be described both ways.

Below, I have put the models that I think are the most "collectible" in bold. (Keep in mind that I am not a collector and that people who collect planes without using them tend to annoy me to no end, because the jack up the prices of these things for the rest of us. So, my definition of "collectible" is a plane the value of which is normally jacked up above what I would prefer to pay for it.)

The models that are good users are in red.

TOOLS: many Stanley & Misc. planes:

2- Stanley #43 Millers Patent,

Stanley #3, 4, 4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2, 6, 6 corrugated, 7,

These all go in ascending order according to size, i.e., 3 is smaller than 4 which is smaller than 4 1/2, etc.

3, 4, 4 1/2 = smoothers, 8" to 10" long

5, 5 1/2 = Jack planes, 14" to 15" long

6, 6C = "fore" planes, 18" long,

7 = jointer, 22" long


603, 605, "Bedrock" series, supposed to be the best Stanley made of its bench planes. Bedrock is designation for planes with a special way of attaching the frog to the bed. 603 is a smoother, 605 is a Jack plane.

20 Victor -- "circular" plane

The following group consists of rabbet/filletster planes, other somewhat specialized models, and the like; #40 is a scrub plane, which is very handy, but which generally costs too much on eBay.

39 1/2, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 48, 71, 78, 82, 98 Gauge,

113, another circular plane, for planing inside curves

130, Double-ended block plane -- blade can be held in the plane in two places, one so that it functions as a regular block plane and the other with the blade right near the end for planing into tight spaces

148, Match plane, (for making tongue and groove boards match up)

289 -- Filletster/rabbet plane

Below I'm posting a few good links in case you want more info.

Good luck!



Tom

http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan0a.html THE online Stanley plane reference. Use a tiny bit of salt, as the guy who created it is probably more of a collector than a woodworker.

http://www.antique-used-tools.com/brtypes.htm All about the Bedrock types.

http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/sta..._plane/dating/ A site that helps you figure out how old a particular plane is.

http://www.tooltrip.com/tooltrip8/st...iley-types.htm All about the different types, (as opposed to size numbers), of Stanleys that came out at verious periods in history.

Great info from our own Bob Smalser:

How to rehab an old plane: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=5867

Basic tool sharpening: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=12747

Tuning a Hand Plane, by our own John Dingman -- http://www.johnswoodshop.us/Tuning%20a%20Plane.html

Popular Mechanics' Bench Plane Basics -- http://www.popularmechanics.com/home..._plane_basics/

Polular Mechanics' Block Plane Basics -- http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...cs/index.phtml

Another view of Hand Plane Basics -- http://www.toolnewz.com/sept2001/handtools03.html

Jeff Gorman, (highly respected British gentleman), on hand planes -- http://www.amgron.clara.net/planingp...planeindex.htm

So You Want To Try Hand Planes? http://www.geocities.com/plybench/plane.html

More on rehabbing -- how to file the mouth of a plane, by an expert -- http://www.cianperez.com/Wood/WoodDo...outhFiling.htm

Honing & Sharpening -- http://www.antiquetools.com/sharp/index.html

Plane rehabbing by another expert -- https://home.comcast.net/%7Erexmill/.../planes101.htm

Sharpening the "Scary Sharp" way -- http://www.shavings.net/SCARY.HTM

[Karl Laustrup]

WOW! Thanks Tom. I am going to do some reading via the links you provided between now and Saturday in hopes I can determine which of these planes I may want to bid on. I will also print out your response and take it with me for reference. Not sure about this auction, but I think it might be items from several or many different people. We'll find out.

Thanks again Tom.

[Jerry Clark]

WOW Tom, great response to a newby question! I don't have any planes, but your response was very informative-- and provided some links for more information. I may think about some hand planes in the future. Great site SMC!

[Karl Laustrup]

Well, thought I'd report on the auction. Got there hoping to be able to take a picture or two of the planes. Couldn't get at a reasonable distance for that. Either too close or no way. About 200 people were there and of those at least 75 were there for the planes. I got the impression that they were collectors, so who knows how much these things would fetch. I also noticed that at least 85-90% of the people there were at least in their 70's. Nothing wrong with that, but I would expect to see whatever they buy up for auction at an estate sale before long.
I waited until noon 30 and then asked about the planes. They would be the last thing up. Ended up not waiting for the planes to go up. A majority of them were in serious fix up mode. Some were partially restored and the 603 & 605 Bedrock ones were in pretty decent shape with new frog assemblies.
I was looking for users for a reasonable price and determined that I wasn't going to find those at this auction. They did put 5 planes up while I was there. Not sure what they are called, but were all wood blocks and quite large. I thought I heard them call them plank planes. Anyway, they tried selling them as a lot, but with individual prices. One guy bid $30 but he only wanted one, his choice. The other 4 then sold to one guy for $9.50 each. I had looked at them earlier, they would need a lot of work to make them usable.
If you go to the auction site as shown in an above post there are some pictures of some of the items. I'll match prices with pictures of some of the stuff sold while I was there. It never ceases to amaze me what people pay for some stuff.
Texaco sign-$280 with bullet holes
Red Crown sign-$170 rusty with bullet holes
2 Chevrolet thermometers-$100 each to the same guy
Coke sign-$230
Hood Tires sign-$150
One last thing [I didn't see a picture at the web site] was a John Deere two wheel wagon that would be hitched to a kids' pedal tractor. Not in great shape but still green and still had JD insignia on back. It went for $160.

All in all I've got to remember to not even bother with the auctions that are listed as collectables and antiques. Just stick with the estate auctions.

Thanks to all for your input and what to look for and/or out for.