The worst part about this pandemic is it cuts back on the rust hunting.
A type 7 #4-1/2 purchased on ebay. My old type 6 had a very thin sole that was subject to warping. The sole on this one is better than twice as thick. It has the wrong lever cap, not a deal breaker at the price:
Recent Rust Hunt 2020-12-09.jpg
It is amazing how much plane prices on ebay have shot up over the years. Must be that it is no longer the free wheeling and wild market place it used to be.This one had a lower 'Buy it Now' price that included shipping. A quick clean and honing the blade and it is making shavings.
An epiphany today while talking to Susan at one of my regular hunting grounds. Last week when we came in her husband was unloading a trailer of tools. He said he had a few planes but didn't know where they were. Went in today and the best one looked like a Sargent #3 sized plane made for second tier sales. The others were a pair of number #5 size planes and what looked like a #220 missing the front knob and the cap adjuster had been replaced with a hex bolt. These were all priced at $5 ea. Tempting, but there are too many other things on my list that need doing. Susan asked me which planes in particular were being sought. My reply was the one that was just purchased on ebay. My realization was there really aren't any bench planes needed in my shop. There are a few speciality planes wanted. She and Mike do not really know one plane from another so leaving them a list would likely do no good.
There were a couple of small clamps for $1 each. Those got a ride home. They are helpful when doing dovetails. A piece is clamped across the face of the tail board at the base line when marking the pin board.
A saw blade was purchased for $1 on my last visit. Chris Carter posted about using one of these to make a ream and got me thinking.
Candy wanted to try looking at the fish in a pet shop downtown today. That gave me a chance to peruse the pawn shop and a couple of second hand stores. The pawn shop looked like their tools have been selling. There wasn't much there.
The bevel gauge with the broken locking lever was $1. The Starrett dividers were $4.
The one shop had an old plane with the front knob looking to be part of the casting. The adjustment was a wheel that had about 8 wings sticking out and a strange looking adjuster. It was missing a blade. It was tempting at ~$25. Maybe some collector would pay big money for it.
Haven't seen anything like it in the various old planes seen online.
It was kind of fun today.
jtk