Craigslist Planes

[Tim Robert]

Someone on my local craigslist just posted a bunch of planes and chisels for $50. I'm just getting started in woodworking and know nothing about planes. Not much detail in the posting, waiting for his email but he did post a pic, although it's not a good one. Any ideas if these are worth $50?

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/planes.jpg

[Prashun Patel]

A little hard to tell what you got there, but:

1) They all appear to be complete and in reasonable condition - if the lack of rust on the soles is indicative of the overall condition. There's a couple blocks, a 3-4 smoother, and a 5-ish jack at least. That's a good 'starter set' of planes and chisels.

2) Tuning planes and sharpening chisels is an acquired skill and can involve modest investment in sharpening/cleaning equipment (like well under $100). But fettling can be frustrating for even the experienced woodworker. I wouldn't expect to be able to use these out of the proverbial box. If you decide to 'start' here, then be prepared for some frustration (which can ultimately be quite rewarding).

3) If they are in good condition, then $50 is a great deal.

Ask the poster for close ups or at least the makes and hopefully model of each tool

[James Ogle]

I would definitely take a look at them. If the planes show no serious damage then I would snap them up for $50. A single vintage plane on Ebay is usually over $50 especially after you add in shipping. Worse comes to worse turn around and sell them on Ebay if you are not happy.

As to what they are it is almost impossible to tell from the picture. If Stanleys I would say that going clockwise from the top there is a 6C (with broken tote), some block plane, a sureform, modern corner chisel, starter chisel set, two more blocks maybe a 60 or a 60 1/2, and a 4. Definitely worth $50.

[Zach England]

What is the long one toward the bottom right?

[Prashun Patel]

Looks like a Stanley Sureformish type of rasp/microplane.

[Tim Robert]

Just got his reply back,

The planes are Sargent (The big wood one) and Stanley. They are all old, and in Fair condition.

Worth my time?

[Sam Takeuchi]

I think whether they are worth your time or not, that's a gamble. That picture doesn't tell anything. His reply doesn't tell much more either. BUT if I were you, I'd get it for $50. I think there's enough to resell for over $50 if they aren't as good as expected.

[Tim Robert]

I appreciate the responses. I'm going to take a look at noon. He's got a rigid oscillating sander for $75 too that I'm interested in. Maybe I can get it all for $100.

[Zach England]

If there is a really good stanley in there it alone will bring $50 on ebay.

[Richard Magbanua]

Sounds like a decent deal, but be warned :eek: this could be just the tip of the neander iceberg for you! This will undoubtedly lead to sharpening equipment (necessary to get them working properly), wood to use them on, hand saws to cut them with, replacement blades/irons, etc, etc.
Keep us updated!!!

[Tim Robert]

Just got the models from him:

Sargent #3418
Stanleys:#5, #4, #110, #220, and no number on the other one.

[James Ogle]

On second thought I think those are horrible planes and should immediately be removed from circulation. I will reimburse you the $50 plus shipping so that I can see to it that they are dealt with in a reasonable manner. Especially that woodie, horrible creature each and every one. ;)

Much nicer listing than what I have been seeing here. Some guy wanted $125 for an old no-name beat up woodie jointer with no wedge and a stanley blade. I told him it was worth about $10 for the beech and he got seriosly offended. I was going to make two smoothers out of it.

[Richard Niemiec]

With that listing of makers, just make sure there are no cracked soles, cheeks or filed open mouths and no serious pitting on the soles, and if so, just pay the man the $50 and forget haggling, he's giving them away.

[James Taglienti]

Buy that stuff immediately. I would pay 75 for it in a heartbeat. 50 is a steal.

[Tim Robert]

I gave him $40. Felt a little bad about it, but not because I know anything about planes. He was divorced in a run down old duplex and he seemed eager to take the $40. Probably could've went $30.

They're dirty and one has a broken tote that's taped up, a little rust on most, but nothing major. Hopefully I'll get a chance this weekend and I'll post some picks and you guys can tell whether or not I got a good deal. Then I can learn how to sharpen:D

On a funny note, the spindle sander was a different person. The guy looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if he still had it. The person with the sander is going to be wondering why I'm interested in both the planes and the sander lol.

[Jim Koepke]

Just got the models from him:

Sargent #3418
Stanleys:#5, #4, #110, #220, and no number on the other one.

The Sargent or the #5 is not showing in the picture.

Still, if the #4 and #5 size planes are any good, the rest is like free.

jim

[James Ogle]

I think that the Sargent is a wood bottom and it is laying on its side at the top of the picture.

[Tim Robert]

The Sargent is at the top of that pic, looks just like a piece of wood with a slit in it. The front is stamped with Sargent #3815.

Looks something like this but not nearly as nice:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Sarg3420pl.jpg

There's blue paint on one side of most of the planes.

[Michael Schwartz]

Glad you picked those up, from the pictures in your OP, parts alone that lot is worth more than $50.00

Really hard to find good deals anymore since everybody just goes and looks there stuff up on ebay before taking it off to the flea market or listing it on CL. Antique stores are even worse.

[Jim Koepke]

I gave him $40. Felt a little bad about it, but not because I know anything about planes. He was divorced in a run down old duplex and he seemed eager to take the $40. Probably could've went $30.

They're dirty and one has a broken tote that's taped up, a little rust on most, but nothing major. Hopefully I'll get a chance this weekend and I'll post some picks and you guys can tell whether or not I got a good deal. Then I can learn how to sharpen:D

On a funny note, the spindle sander was a different person. The guy looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if he still had it. The person with the sander is going to be wondering why I'm interested in both the planes and the sander lol.

I missed the woody at the top. Maybe asking for the sander is what got him to come down in price. People will do all kinds of things to get rid of a crazy person.

Even without more pictures, it looks like you are going to rate on great big YOU SUCK!

Happy New Year and enjoy the new toys.

jim

[Bill Houghton]

What is the long one toward the bottom right?

I think it's one of Stanley's best approaches to the surform. The back handle unscrews to flip into three positions: like a plane tote, as it is now; like a file handle, parallel to the body and running backward, handy for some work; in between, in a position I've never found any use for but someone might.

[Tim Robert]

Here's some pics, the #5 is pretty beat up and I think there's a piece missing from the 220. The one with no name has Union Mfg Co which a search revealed is Sargent I guess. The rasp was just junk made in china.

The 3418:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/P1060124_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/P1060125_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/P1060126_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/P1060123_Small.JPG

[Tim Robert]

#5:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060127_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060130_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060129_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060128_Small.JPG

[Tim Robert]

#4 appears to me to be in decent shape:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060131_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060132_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060133_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060134_Small.JPG

[Tim Robert]

110,220, and the no name (I think Sargent after a little research, no sure what model):
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060135_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060136_Small.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1060137_Small.JPG

[jerry nazard]

The #4 and 5 have the potential to be good users. Clean them up, sharpen the blades properly, and see what you have. Making a new tote for the #5 would be a fun project. For $50 you came out a winner!

[Jim Koepke]

Those look like good candidates for cleaning up and using.

The blue paint was likely sprayed on by a previous owner. This was often done in shops so people could tell to who which tool belonged.

Look in the Neanderthal wisdom/FAQ thread at the top of Neanderthal Haven and both Bob Smalser and I wrote information on optimizing old planes.

jim

[art san jr]

Nice haul. Guess you'll be kept busy for awhile scrubbing, cleaning, polishing.
You'll enjoy it, I'm sure we all do. Have fun.

Art.