Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok - so I still know very little about hand planes, but from my other thread it appears that a used one might be more along what my budget will allow - and then I'll learn how to tune it up. As a refresher, I'm looking for something to shoot my backs and sides with.

If anyone is willing to look - I see the following on e-bay and wonder if any of them are worth a bid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

Thanks!!!

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

I think the last 3 have too many issues. The Stanley Sweetheart would be nice but it's not in the best of condition.
1 and 3 look OK but of course that's in pictures. They aren't early types but the square corners to the blade suggest that they aren't the poorer later types either. 3 sounds like he is knowlegeable about planes.
The second on your list might be OK but there's not much to go on.
If you are looking at No.5's and No. 6's you should also consider the No. 5 1/2. It's a little longer and wider than a No.5.

Also look at this No.5 from WaltQ.

http://www.brasscityrecords.com/toolwor ... tools.html

$30 for a type 14 with sweetheart blade. It may look a bit grubby but that won't affect it's performance.

I really believe that every plane is an island unto itself... My own experience is that you if you don't have much experience with evaluating Old Rust... and you really want to spend your time Building Guitars rather than Fettling Old Rust... you may be better off buying used and fettled planes off of a reputable vendor rather than spending 20+ hours fettling one yourself.

The amazing part is that you can buy a used + properly fettled #4 or #5 for somewhere around $40.00 where a Used but not broken #4 or #5 runs $20.00 or so....

For example....

I have one of those blue "Junky" Stanley Handyman #4 planes that will consistently take transparent shavings and was one of the easiest to fettle "Old Rust" planes I own. It was Dad's -- so I know it was never fettled (Or even sharpened) before I got it from him.

The converse is the Pre-War #5 with Rosewood handles... and that plane is the farthest out of square plane and most out of whack actual user plane I have ever seen... The core must have shifted during casting -- it is more than 1/8" out of square, and never ran right until I totally replaced the sole with a "New old Stock" sole... It also had several other problems that I eventually worked out.... (Though in theory, it was completely "Usable")

Thanks

John

John - what the heck is "fettled" and "fettling"????

_________________
P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars