Howto & Style

How to buy used hand planes- How much should you pay? What to look for...

by Stumpy Nubs (James Hamilton)

📚 Main Topics

Types of Hand Planes
- Jack Plane
- Smoothing Plane
- Block Plane
Where to Buy
- Local sources: yard sales, flea markets, antique shops
- Online platforms: eBay and other marketplaces
Evaluating Condition
- Check for all parts being present
- Inspect for cracks and flatness of the bottom
- Look for chips around the mouth
- Assess the condition of adjustments, knob, and tote
- Surface rust is acceptable; avoid substantial rust and pitting
Pricing Guidelines
- Local prices for Stanley planes:
  - Good condition: $10
  - Very good: $20
  - Excellent: $50
- Online prices:
  - $40 to $80 for good condition, up to $100 for excellent
- Block planes: $15 to $40 locally, $30 to $80 online
Quality Considerations
- Prefer planes made before World War II for better quality
- Avoid Stanley handyman series and planes with blue paint or yellow/orange logos
- Corrugated vs. smooth soles: both work equally well; choose based on preference, not price

✨ Takeaways

Local shopping often yields better prices than online.
Inspect used planes thoroughly for condition before purchasing.
Pre-World War II models are generally of higher quality.
Pricing varies significantly between local and online markets.

🧠 Lessons

Patience is key when searching for quality used hand planes; wait for the right deal.
Understanding the characteristics of different planes can help in making informed purchases.
Regularly check local sources for potential finds, as good deals can often be overlooked.

For more detailed information on hand planes and woodworking, refer to the Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal.

woodworking stumpy nubs hand planes handplanes tune up

Transcript excerpt

0:00 hi I'm Stumpy Nubs and this is how you buy used hand planes in the mid January 2016 issue of stumping UPS woodworking Journal we talked about three types of hand planes that every Power Tool woodworker should own a jack plane smoothing plane and a block plane since then a lot of subscribers have asked where they should

0:30 look for a good used set and how much they should expect to pay well generally speaking you're going to pay less if you find them locally at a yard sale flea market I especially like antique shops it's not always the case eventually you're going to run into some nut that just thinks his rust is gold but for the most part I found a lot of really good deals at small local sources so what's a good deal first let's talk about condition like I said before these planes are common enough that you can

1:00 afford to be choosing all parts should be present and accounted for take the iron out and inspect everything carefully there should be no cracks anywhere on the plane the bottom should also be reasonably flat if you hold something straight against it there should be no chips around the mouth it's okay if the adjustments are a little gummed up as long as you can move them meaning that they aren't seized up with rust if possible the knob and the tote or handle should be intact but if the

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