When I opened my grandfather's old, dusty toolbox, it was like digging up a Saxon Horde. The restoration process taught me how they work, how to sharpen and how to keep learning about them. James and his videos were a huge help. I've now restored ten planes and I learn something new on each one. And what they do is still magical to me. Like whittling a stick, sometimes I chock up an old piece of scrap just to plane something. Never underestimate the value of practice. Thanks, James.
That is fantastic but people still need to buy new planes or there will be no manufacturers. Most certainly using any old planes from a relative is a must if available.
I'm a mix of old and new! When I started I couldn't afford new, so I rebuilt some older pieces. Now that I'm making more I can afford new and nice and tend to go that route!
Like you James, my first hand plane was brand new and absolute junk, it was the best investment I made. With no knowledge of wood working and only pallette wood available, I started at the bottom of hard nock college. After sitting through hours of UA-cam video's I finally got my piece of junk to shave wood. With more experience, I finally got it sharp and started to enjoy the feeling of making shavings. I also found the woodworkers I wanted to follow and the ones that I didn't. After much trial and error I was able to upgrade my junk to a piece of junk with a name on the lever cap, it was the much aligned Silverline number 4, unjustly so in my humble opinion, with sole flattened and iron sharp, I still use it with great affection, but then I discovered the Faithfull brand and I was in love, except for the number 10 and the spokeshaves, I have the full set. Yes they all needed work, but so does a brand new Stanley (of which I have 3 number 4's, all donated to me by a family friend after they dug them out of a shed who's roof had collapsed three years earlier) and I can honestly say that the Faithfull's work just as well once set up. The thing that kept me going in the very early days of hand planning was tips from your good self, Rex Krueger and of course Paul Sellers, personally I'm not into Rob Cosman (if you don't own a wood River you've got junk). I much preferred Paul Sellers who once said "just about any plane can be made to work". Now like many hobbyist woodworkers, I have an obscene amount of hand plane's, mainly number 4's and still the original plane I bought and still use. I bought the piece of junk, because it was all I could afford at the time, but by owning that plane, I learned a lot. I had to.
Long time woodworker. The choice for me has always been simple. I get early iron planes fairly cheap and restore them. I can have one on line for $40 and an hour or so of time vs. several hundred dollars for new of equal quality.
I love Kershaw too. I liked them so much I gave one to my postman and to a police friend. They carry them everyday. Gibbs rule #9 "don't go anywhere without a knife". Love the video.
The first plane I got was a ready to use old Stanley number 4 and it was sharpened by the previous owner when I bought it, for me it was a very good thing because that gave me a feel for what sharp is and a goal to try and reach when I sharpened it myself. Be careful though because it take some time to learn to sharpen well and it can be frustrating to sharpen and realize that it is not as sharp as when you first tried it, but with time and effort I got there and that feels great !!! Buying a plane that was used by the previous owner also ensure you that the problem is with your skills and not the plane which is far from guaranteed while buying very cheap new planes.
Am happy today as my brother gave me a Stanley 5 1/2 and a No 6 last week, both rescued from a skip ( I think we in the UK use this "skip" word which means little, whereas in the USA they seem to use "dumpster" which makes sense. Separated by a common language and all that). So what if I ignored all the jobs I should have done yesterday and today and instead made up missing bits and glued a twice-broken tote together and removed rust in citric acid then white wool and Wd40 and ground the blades square and sharpened them? It was my day off and no-one elses! What wrote off the last hour was me comparing them in operation against a pair of equivalent length wooden planes I have and against my No 5 and No 4. My conclusion: the 5 1/2 is not bad for big jobs, but the No 6 is a real lump and hard work to use. Will give it a try for a few months but I can see it going to my favourite charity shop...
I love using my No. 6 with my shooting board. They're just the right weight and length for the job. Making a shooting board is a fun project too. Give it a shot 😆
You actually want a camber on plane irons. Square they leave tracks. 5 1/2 and 6 are on the larger side. I do like my 5s though. I have a 606 along with a couple other sixes. The 606 is the Bedrock 6.
Love the video...you speak true for sure. Personally I prefer the vintage planes and tools. For me the is a sense of connection to the past. Don't care if it is fully restored. If I have to put in the work to bring it up to snuff, I learn the tool in an intimate way. I can afford the best of the best of new tools, but the history...that is my thing...restoring it to full function and customizing it to me....man...there is no equal for me.
Since I've gotten into hand tool woodworking a couple years ago, I discovered something essential about where you land on this process. It's not necessarily all about the money (since time is a huge tradeoff) but whether you actually enjoy the restoration process on its own and your standard for finished. After my third or fourth restoration, I realized it was utterly miserable for me. Derusting and sharpening is pretty easy but it's everything else, the fit and finish, the fettling, the tuning that became such a slog. That's on top of buying modern blades to replace the pitted or inconsistent metallurgy of old irons. I'm glad I gave it a shot but unless I turn to tool restoration as its own hobby, the modern tools are more than worth the cost.
I guess I fall into the more time than money category. Bit I am also in the more machine tool than hand tool category. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
I really liked your categorization of planes to wood working guru's... pretty accurate in how the price point of what they recommend matches their particular vein. Cosman pretty much features the "high end" stuff... and to no surprise since he makes and sells a pretty high end saw. Sellers is unpretentious, in that he doesn't give in to what he considers needless "bells and whistles" on a plane. I hope you do the comparison video on what I call "value" line planes. I agree with your assessment of TayTools planes , I bought their low angle block planes, and it's better than what Stanley is turning out. India is turning out some really decent planes, and I believe that is where the planes that TayTools sells come from.
I go to flea markets and yard sales. I don't find stuff all the time but every now and again I've found some tools. It's the law of large numbers. See enough stuff and eventually you see the stuff you're looking for. You have to sift through a lot to find gems though.
Thanks James. I am broke and have not been able to purchase much. I have a few things belonging to my father and grandfather. Basically Stanley handyman style planes. I didn't mind putting the time into those things to get them working. When a few people found out what I was trying to teach myself, they were like "hey, I have a few of those in my garage you can have..." So through luck I have a few things to work with. I hope one day to buy a few and hope that someone has them in stock by the time that arrives. Supply issues are pretty bad out there... I'm glad you mentioned the Veritas. I kinda questioned them in the sense that, "did they really need to redesign a hand plane?" Do you know of anyone that reviewed the Veritas from a honest and experienced point of view?
When you make your video on the budget end of new planes I'd love to hear your thoughts on lever cap cam vs screw. Most cheaper new planes I've seen use a thumbscrew for final tightening of the lever cap and it seems like it would be really annoying to have to adjust that every time you take it off to sharpen or clean it out. At the moment I only have older planes with a traditional cam lever, but I've been thinking of getting a modern one it seems like the thumb screw style is unavoidable if you don't want to spend too much.
As to which one works better, they both function the exact same and will complete the same task. The lever cap is a little bit easier but that's just fit and finish.
My brother recently found me a beautiful Stanley #5 at a yard sale that's basically ready. Main issue I'm having with it is the chip breaker slides right to the tip of the blade bevel either when I'm adjusting depth. I'm pretty sure it's a bevel down plane.
I really agree with your boat anchor comment on the old cheap planes. I just received a Stanley handyman plane in a box of old tools I bought from Facebook marketplace. Wow, that thing is a terd, my first plane (a no-brand No.4 knock-off) I thought was horrid is way better. There's no real 'fixing' up one of those planes, I'm going to try and on sell it or break it down for parts (the handles are ok).
I have some pretty crapola planes. If they're real crap they still make great scrub planes. I bought a Stanley Handyman once which was Stanley's way of really cheapening the Bailey design. It's my regular scrub plane and I use it all the time. Works great.
@@Keithmwalton people have made planes out of blocks of wood. Fixing an iron in a body is not rocket science. When you use a wooden plane it does make you appreciate the subtleties of the process then. Because you set the iron with a hammer in them. Just beat it into position. I've seen old Bailey style planes with mushroomed irons in them. So whoever owned it was doing it the old fashioned way. Because old habits die hard.
Really good advice on a really fun question. I own A LOT of planes, and bought them for all of the reasons you listed. Sometimes, I buy a plane just because I love it. I feel like it needs a good home and someone who with take care of it, like when you find a lost dog. I don't like to consider myself a collector, but rather a junkie. LMK if anyone has an old friend that needs a good home! ;-)
I have enough planes now for me. So if I buy one anymore it's just a puppy that follows me home. The more messed up it is the better. I like the challenge of getting it to make a shaving. It's a thrill to take them from beyond and bring them back.
Not sure what’s going on. Picture quality is amazing right now, it’s either the contrast with your blue shirt or from my efforts of trying to stop smoking the devils lettuce (two days strong!). The plane I ordered was an old Stanley no 4. Looks better than the pics and I’m so excited to get it working. The japanning on it is solid, looking nice! Anyways, thanks to you and your awesome family…and Rex Krueger for being the inspiration and motivation I needed to quit bad habits and start a new hobby. Been wracking my brain on gift ideas for when I finally get that ball rolling.
I buy tools locally. I'm a bit off the beaten path but they turn up here occasionally. With the money you're saving not supporting entrepreneurial pharmacists you'll be able to indulge in other things. For gifts you have to consider recipient's interests. Wood is flexible. You can make a lot of different stuff out of it. People on the other hand they each go their own way.
@@1pcfred Not sure what you mean by entrepreneurial pharmacists, could be a simple lack of understanding on my part which I wouldn't be surprised by, I do have mental illness which makes it hard to pay attention or learn specific things. I live in Washington state and they have about seven shops in just 2 miles around me and they all make multiple millions of dollars. This isn't me being salty or anything of the likes, thought a little more context might be needed though. Do let me know what you meant though please!
So, regarding of antique tools you’ve said that pre-war planes are, in general, better than post-war ones, which I tend to agree, but what about the in-war period? Something like the Stanleys type 17? I mean, the craftsmanship should still be on par with the pre-war period but I know there were several shortages on materials, notably brass, so steel and sometimes plastic or bakelite was often used instead for depth adjustment wheels and tote and knob bolts. Also, sometimes the iron castings were thicker, which may be somewhat beneficial, but other than that, what are your thoughts on these tools? Are they any good and worth restoring and maybe using them? Or should they go alongside the cheaper current models instead?
In war can be a mixed bag as those had so many things that changed at one point or another. But in general they are good as long as you do not have plastic knobs.
There are two versions of new Stanley's. There's the Stanley sweetheart series that is a little more expensive and the new Stanley Bailey plans. Both can't work very well. The Stanley sweetheart is a little bit better. Both have fit and finish issues but can work fine.
You always seem to put out the exact video I need when I need it! I'm trying to find a Jointer that won't break the bank, considering a Tay Tools no7 or holding out and checking eBay religiously for a Stanley to go for a good price. I have a post war, 50s, No 4 and No 5 and after about an hour of tuning for both they perform very beautifully and I love them. But, still seeking that jointer!
I got my antique no 7 by getting parts off eBay to restore a ‘parts plane’. It ended up being cheaper slightly by also much easier to actually find! If you’re having trouble and REALLY want one, it might be viable
7s are pretty big. I only have planes up to 6. I think I may have three sixes though? I almost bought a 7 once. It was like a canoe. They weren't exactly giving it away either. Have you ever actually seen a 7 in person? They're like 2 feet long. It's a big plane. They're a storage issue to own.
My “main” plane is a Record number 7. I use it for almost all my planing. Shorter planes don’t feel quite right, after all that experience with a number 7. ( I’m not sure if they are still being made; the design is a copy of Stanley.) I don’t hear any mention of the Record brand; I think the quality is very good. I also have a Stanley number 4. Doesn’t work as well, but then, it has a different purpose. Maybe, I haven’t been able to get it sharp enough.
@@davidkantor7978 to woodwork you have to get sharpening down to a process. Don't listen to the freehand folks they're full of it. Get an Eclipse style guide. The far eastern knock offs need some work to get them up to snuff but you can do that in a few minutes with a hand file. The casting on the bed is a bit rough when you get it. So flatten that for good contact. I hand sharpened for decades and it's just too how ya doing. With the guide it never varies. I'm much happier with the results I achieve now. The edges I'm getting are so precise. Like razor blades. I'd also say hollow grinding chisels and plane irons is essential to do too. Honing the whole bevel is for the birds. So step up your sharpening game. There's UA-camrs with agendas. So they're not being entirely honest. Or maybe they're just idiots? I can't tell sometimes. It takes a certain amount of gear to do it right though. Namely the bench grinder and a guide. I know it's more stuff but you need it. Technically you can do it without that. I did it that way myself. That's far from the best way though.
Hi James, I'm a novice woodworker and a relatively new subscriber to your channel. I really enjoy your content. My dad gave me my great-grandfather's old Stanley Bailey No. 4-1/2 and I put a new iron in it. It works but I still need to do some tuning. I won't get rid of that plane because of the family history but I'm looking to add at least one more plane right now (looking for a 5-1/2 or 6) and I am struggling with the buy once cry once new or find a decent vintage plane and fix it up. I, like you, love the idea of using something that other people have used and spent a life with making projects but there's also the "I just want it to work and work well right away mentality" Anyways I am curious if you've had any experience with the Kunz Plus line of hand planes out of Germany? TayTools and Highland woodworking sell them but there are very few reviews that I can find. I know Rex Krueger made a video where he uses the No. 4 from Kunz but I was hoping to find more reviews. They look decent and moderately priced, although they do not currently make a No. 5-1/2. Anyways I was just curious if you had any experience with them. Thanks! Nick
For my case the answer is simple: but new ones. Where I live, the old vintage one costs from five up to ten times more than the new ones. I'm a newbie hobbyist in fine woodworking, so cheap are good to start with...
You can get old stanley planes that are cheap on line and the pictures should show you what sort of condition they are in. An other great options is to make your own wooden planes as well.
@@mosconirmg Yeah I'm sure you're chained to a tree. Excuses, excuses. Instead of going to the beach on vacation go on a tool buying junket. Ah the City of Brotherly Love. Look kids that's the Liberty Bell. Well I have to go to the farmers market. See ya! Poppa's got tools he's just got to buy.
@@1pcfred I don't know if you're trolling but in case you're not : Not everyone live in the land of the freedom Flea markets containing hand tools seems like a specificity of the north american market than a global rule Taking a plane or a train ticket just to hope finding tools in a flea market is also not an option when the ticket already 10 times more than the tools you're willing to buy Importing or buying new is the only option for a lot of people
@@uwyphi we let just about anyone come here to visit. You're not on a terrorist watch list, are you? People from all over the world come to the USA just to buy tools. It's a real thing. Some of them buy containers to ship what they found back home. I was just out at a sale this morning and he was selling a Makita power hand plane in the case for $10. If I didn't already have one I might have picked it up. It looked barely used to me.
Found three Craftsman planes (possibly from the 1950s) at a local antique store (range in size from a Stanley 5-7 comparatively). Are they still good users, or should I just look at Stanley’s. Seller is asking around $135 for the group of 3.
It’s true: in continental Europe, a decent vintage plane can really cost you - the only place in which they’re not rare is the UK, and we have to pay considerable import fees since 52 % of Brits had the bright idea to leave the European Union. No such thing as picking up a rusty Stanley for 5 bucks at a fleamarket. I’m glad I bought a few expertly restored planes from Tooltique (see James’s list) - not because I wouldn’t have the time to restore a plane (strange argument imho, since hand tool woodworking is really time-consuming anyway), but because I wouldn’t have *really* known if I was doing it right, and this way I now know that vintage planes can be amazing. Still waiting for Lie Nielsen to start shipping to retailers in Germany again - I’d like to own one new premium handplane, just to know what it’s like, and because I have one empty space left in my collection: a 62, mainly for shooting board use - and I also want the toothed iron for scrubbing.
Last time I was on Lie Nielsen's website absolutely everything was out of stock. Makes me wonder what's going on with them. I think they were a flu causality? It didn't look good. Least the site is still up.
Dieter Schmid sells Juuma planes which are very, very nice for the price, got my number 5 from there It's above the 100 obviously, but it's still half cheaper than high end planes and you won't get a bedrock in this shape at this price ever in the EU from my experience
According to their website, Lie Nielsen are operating normally, they just seem to have a huge backlog, so I’m guessing they will fulfill direct/US orders first, before starting to ship large quantities abroad. Maybe expanding their capacities is simply not an option, at least not temporarily, who knows. It looks like I could actually order directly and deal with import headaches myself - not sure if I want to do that: I don’t urgently need that plane, I’d just like to have it. I’ll keep an eye on it.
Most people use old beaters for scrub planes. I literally used and old busted Stanley 78 rabbit plane for that. Just cut a high camber in the blade and go to town.
And ugh the new Stanley sweet hearts... My first new planes besides my old trusty Stanley's we're their #4 and #62. The#62 is acceptable n handy but their #4 I wish I would've saved a Lil more n got a veritas or LN. Their #4 is like TWICE as heavy plus I'm not fond of their new lateral adjuster(can't think of the name for that type of adjuster) really really prefer the old Stanley 4 to new
I hope this doen't go against the comment rules but I've found a few old Stanley planes on Ebay and Craigslist. a Number.7, 5, 3. Try to do your best finding them from before WWII.
First world problems. I tend to buy whatever I can lay my hands on, and that is few and far between. Thing you lot consider to be junk cannot even be had in any form or shape over here.
I think if I buy one more tool (and trust me I do need more - honest!!) I have a feeling my photo will be on a milk carton, and various vital anatomical parts will be ermm... removed. I'm trying to ingratiate myself to every old woodworker I know or his widow so I get something in the will....
Really excellent tips, James! Thanks!!! 😃 Soon I'm probably going to buy some planes... But probably from China. We shall see. 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
DIY wooden planes are an option too if you want to invest the time. I've even seen some nutcase make one out of pine and it worked! :) IMO someone who has no experience with planes should not undertake a restoration on his first purchase. This is a tricky, subtle tool and until one knows what to aim for, restoration can be very frustrating. You also risk buying an expensive problem and spending too much money on parts. If people don't have $250 for a new plane ready to go, I recommend buying a restored user from a reputable dealer.
Manufacturers used to make things to the best of their ability, and then price it accordingly. Now, a lot of the junk is made to a set price point. If you have the chance to hold them both in your hand, you will put the junk down, and slowly back away.
Nick Engler over at Workshop Companion has a fantastic video about a Harbor Freight bench plane. It would lead me to believe it is a pretty terrible choice for a beginner even if you were willing to put in lots of time to make is usable. ua-cam.com/video/QSnLgE7fWCQ/v-deo.html
When I opened my grandfather's old, dusty toolbox, it was like digging up a Saxon Horde. The restoration process taught me how they work, how to sharpen and how to keep learning about them. James and his videos were a huge help. I've now restored ten planes and I learn something new on each one. And what they do is still magical to me. Like whittling a stick, sometimes I chock up an old piece of scrap just to plane something. Never underestimate the value of practice. Thanks, James.
That is fantastic but people still need to buy new planes or there will be no manufacturers. Most certainly using any old planes from a relative is a must if available.
A well balanced view, something new, something old, something borrowed and something blue 😁
I'm a mix of old and new! When I started I couldn't afford new, so I rebuilt some older pieces. Now that I'm making more I can afford new and nice and tend to go that route!
Like you James, my first hand plane was brand new and absolute junk, it was the best investment I made. With no knowledge of wood working and only pallette wood available, I started at the bottom of hard nock college. After sitting through hours of UA-cam video's I finally got my piece of junk to shave wood. With more experience, I finally got it sharp and started to enjoy the feeling of making shavings. I also found the woodworkers I wanted to follow and the ones that I didn't.
After much trial and error I was able to upgrade my junk to a piece of junk with a name on the lever cap, it was the much aligned Silverline number 4, unjustly so in my humble opinion, with sole flattened and iron sharp, I still use it with great affection, but then I discovered the Faithfull brand and I was in love, except for the number 10 and the spokeshaves, I have the full set.
Yes they all needed work, but so does a brand new Stanley (of which I have 3 number 4's, all donated to me by a family friend after they dug them out of a shed who's roof had collapsed three years earlier) and I can honestly say that the Faithfull's work just as well once set up.
The thing that kept me going in the very early days of hand planning was tips from your good self, Rex Krueger and of course Paul Sellers, personally I'm not into Rob Cosman (if you don't own a wood River you've got junk). I much preferred Paul Sellers who once said "just about any plane can be made to work".
Now like many hobbyist woodworkers, I have an obscene amount of hand plane's, mainly number 4's and still the original plane I bought and still use.
I bought the piece of junk, because it was all I could afford at the time, but by owning that plane, I learned a lot. I had to.
Pallets can be good wood. It depends. Over half of the US hardwood production goes into making pallets. BTW it's hard knocks.
Long time woodworker. The choice for me has always been simple. I get early iron planes fairly cheap and restore them. I can have one on line for $40 and an hour or so of time vs. several hundred dollars for new of equal quality.
Excellent rundown of the things to consider around choosing between new and antique and also the price categories in each group! Thanks!
I love Kershaw too.
I liked them so much I gave one to my postman and to a police friend.
They carry them everyday.
Gibbs rule #9 "don't go anywhere without a knife".
Love the video.
The first plane I got was a ready to use old Stanley number 4 and it was sharpened by the previous owner when I bought it, for me it was a very good thing because that gave me a feel for what sharp is and a goal to try and reach when I sharpened it myself. Be careful though because it take some time to learn to sharpen well and it can be frustrating to sharpen and realize that it is not as sharp as when you first tried it, but with time and effort I got there and that feels great !!!
Buying a plane that was used by the previous owner also ensure you that the problem is with your skills and not the plane which is far from guaranteed while buying very cheap new planes.
Thanks!
Am happy today as my brother gave me a Stanley 5 1/2 and a No 6 last week, both rescued from a skip ( I think we in the UK use this "skip" word which means little, whereas in the USA they seem to use "dumpster" which makes sense. Separated by a common language and all that). So what if I ignored all the jobs I should have done yesterday and today and instead made up missing bits and glued a twice-broken tote together and removed rust in citric acid then white wool and Wd40 and ground the blades square and sharpened them? It was my day off and no-one elses! What wrote off the last hour was me comparing them in operation against a pair of equivalent length wooden planes I have and against my No 5 and No 4. My conclusion: the 5 1/2 is not bad for big jobs, but the No 6 is a real lump and hard work to use. Will give it a try for a few months but I can see it going to my favourite charity shop...
I love using my No. 6 with my shooting board. They're just the right weight and length for the job. Making a shooting board is a fun project too. Give it a shot 😆
You actually want a camber on plane irons. Square they leave tracks. 5 1/2 and 6 are on the larger side. I do like my 5s though. I have a 606 along with a couple other sixes. The 606 is the Bedrock 6.
Love the video...you speak true for sure. Personally I prefer the vintage planes and tools. For me the is a sense of connection to the past. Don't care if it is fully restored. If I have to put in the work to bring it up to snuff, I learn the tool in an intimate way.
I can afford the best of the best of new tools, but the history...that is my thing...restoring it to full function and customizing it to me....man...there is no equal for me.
I found a Stanley 5-1/2 for $2 at a church sale. Prewar and very nice. Also found a Miller's Falls No. 8. Also a nice plane.
Since I've gotten into hand tool woodworking a couple years ago, I discovered something essential about where you land on this process. It's not necessarily all about the money (since time is a huge tradeoff) but whether you actually enjoy the restoration process on its own and your standard for finished. After my third or fourth restoration, I realized it was utterly miserable for me. Derusting and sharpening is pretty easy but it's everything else, the fit and finish, the fettling, the tuning that became such a slog. That's on top of buying modern blades to replace the pitted or inconsistent metallurgy of old irons. I'm glad I gave it a shot but unless I turn to tool restoration as its own hobby, the modern tools are more than worth the cost.
I guess I fall into the more time than money category. Bit I am also in the more machine tool than hand tool category. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
I really liked your categorization of planes to wood working guru's... pretty accurate in how the price point of what they recommend matches their particular vein. Cosman pretty much features the "high end" stuff... and to no surprise since he makes and sells a pretty high end saw. Sellers is unpretentious, in that he doesn't give in to what he considers needless "bells and whistles" on a plane. I hope you do the comparison video on what I call "value" line planes. I agree with your assessment of TayTools planes , I bought their low angle block planes, and it's better than what Stanley is turning out. India is turning out some really decent planes, and I believe that is where the planes that TayTools sells come from.
Thank you for this James. Great video. Covers all the bases of this topic.
My restored Stanley 4 1/2 type 8 is my go to plane. I can't justify the price of a quality new plane.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I have learned quite a bit from you.
I go to flea markets and yard sales. I don't find stuff all the time but every now and again I've found some tools. It's the law of large numbers. See enough stuff and eventually you see the stuff you're looking for. You have to sift through a lot to find gems though.
Thanks James. I am broke and have not been able to purchase much. I have a few things belonging to my father and grandfather. Basically Stanley handyman style planes. I didn't mind putting the time into those things to get them working. When a few people found out what I was trying to teach myself, they were like "hey, I have a few of those in my garage you can have..." So through luck I have a few things to work with. I hope one day to buy a few and hope that someone has them in stock by the time that arrives. Supply issues are pretty bad out there...
I'm glad you mentioned the Veritas. I kinda questioned them in the sense that, "did they really need to redesign a hand plane?" Do you know of anyone that reviewed the Veritas from a honest and experienced point of view?
You are very interesting we have some good subjects in Arizona I have a Hyundai
When you make your video on the budget end of new planes I'd love to hear your thoughts on lever cap cam vs screw. Most cheaper new planes I've seen use a thumbscrew for final tightening of the lever cap and it seems like it would be really annoying to have to adjust that every time you take it off to sharpen or clean it out. At the moment I only have older planes with a traditional cam lever, but I've been thinking of getting a modern one it seems like the thumb screw style is unavoidable if you don't want to spend too much.
As to which one works better, they both function the exact same and will complete the same task. The lever cap is a little bit easier but that's just fit and finish.
My brother recently found me a beautiful Stanley #5 at a yard sale that's basically ready. Main issue I'm having with it is the chip breaker slides right to the tip of the blade bevel either when I'm adjusting depth. I'm pretty sure it's a bevel down plane.
Almost all planes are beveled down. If there's a chip breaker it's bevel down. Only low angle jack planes and some block planes are bevel up.
@@WoodByWrightHowTo thanks for the confirmation 😊 My brother was over again and we both got to make some happy curls!
Stanley 5s are my favorite bench plane. Not too big and not too small.
I really agree with your boat anchor comment on the old cheap planes. I just received a Stanley handyman plane in a box of old tools I bought from Facebook marketplace. Wow, that thing is a terd, my first plane (a no-brand No.4 knock-off) I thought was horrid is way better. There's no real 'fixing' up one of those planes, I'm going to try and on sell it or break it down for parts (the handles are ok).
I have some pretty crapola planes. If they're real crap they still make great scrub planes. I bought a Stanley Handyman once which was Stanley's way of really cheapening the Bailey design. It's my regular scrub plane and I use it all the time. Works great.
The plane is a terd, there’s no fixing it, it’s worse than horrid - your thought; some one should give me money for this
@@Keithmwalton people have made planes out of blocks of wood. Fixing an iron in a body is not rocket science. When you use a wooden plane it does make you appreciate the subtleties of the process then. Because you set the iron with a hammer in them. Just beat it into position. I've seen old Bailey style planes with mushroomed irons in them. So whoever owned it was doing it the old fashioned way. Because old habits die hard.
Really good advice on a really fun question. I own A LOT of planes, and bought them for all of the reasons you listed. Sometimes, I buy a plane just because I love it. I feel like it needs a good home and someone who with take care of it, like when you find a lost dog. I don't like to consider myself a collector, but rather a junkie. LMK if anyone has an old friend that needs a good home! ;-)
I have enough planes now for me. So if I buy one anymore it's just a puppy that follows me home. The more messed up it is the better. I like the challenge of getting it to make a shaving. It's a thrill to take them from beyond and bring them back.
Not sure what’s going on. Picture quality is amazing right now, it’s either the contrast with your blue shirt or from my efforts of trying to stop smoking the devils lettuce (two days strong!).
The plane I ordered was an old Stanley no 4. Looks better than the pics and I’m so excited to get it working. The japanning on it is solid, looking nice!
Anyways, thanks to you and your awesome family…and Rex Krueger for being the inspiration and motivation I needed to quit bad habits and start a new hobby. Been wracking my brain on gift ideas for when I finally get that ball rolling.
I buy tools locally. I'm a bit off the beaten path but they turn up here occasionally. With the money you're saving not supporting entrepreneurial pharmacists you'll be able to indulge in other things. For gifts you have to consider recipient's interests. Wood is flexible. You can make a lot of different stuff out of it. People on the other hand they each go their own way.
@@1pcfred Not sure what you mean by entrepreneurial pharmacists, could be a simple lack of understanding on my part which I wouldn't be surprised by, I do have mental illness which makes it hard to pay attention or learn specific things.
I live in Washington state and they have about seven shops in just 2 miles around me and they all make multiple millions of dollars. This isn't me being salty or anything of the likes, thought a little more context might be needed though.
Do let me know what you meant though please!
@@orellinvvardengra6775 entrepreneurial pharmacists = drug dealers
@@1pcfred Ah yeah, no drug dealers for me. Like I said it's all legal here.
@@orellinvvardengra6775 regardless of the legality the people pushing it are still dealers.
Would love to see a side by side of a wood river vs the taytools.
those are two different categories. Woodriver is in the next weight class up.
@@WoodByWrightHowTo I know its pitched that way but but it would be interesting to see what you are really getting for double the money
Here you are on vacation n still posting lol smart man
I wonder what you think of the Grizzly tools planes they sell?
I have not had a chance to play with him. But I'd like to test him.
thanks
So, regarding of antique tools you’ve said that pre-war planes are, in general, better than post-war ones, which I tend to agree, but what about the in-war period? Something like the Stanleys type 17? I mean, the craftsmanship should still be on par with the pre-war period but I know there were several shortages on materials, notably brass, so steel and sometimes plastic or bakelite was often used instead for depth adjustment wheels and tote and knob bolts. Also, sometimes the iron castings were thicker, which may be somewhat beneficial, but other than that, what are your thoughts on these tools? Are they any good and worth restoring and maybe using them? Or should they go alongside the cheaper current models instead?
In war can be a mixed bag as those had so many things that changed at one point or another. But in general they are good as long as you do not have plastic knobs.
Hello, did you have any contact with new stanley bailey planes? Are they worth it? In my country we only have new stanley planes.
There are two versions of new Stanley's. There's the Stanley sweetheart series that is a little more expensive and the new Stanley Bailey plans. Both can't work very well. The Stanley sweetheart is a little bit better. Both have fit and finish issues but can work fine.
Is there something special about bakelite handled planes? Mostley stanleys
No. Once they started switching over to bakelite and plastic, that was around the time that the quality started to go downhill.
You always seem to put out the exact video I need when I need it! I'm trying to find a Jointer that won't break the bank, considering a Tay Tools no7 or holding out and checking eBay religiously for a Stanley to go for a good price. I have a post war, 50s, No 4 and No 5 and after about an hour of tuning for both they perform very beautifully and I love them. But, still seeking that jointer!
I got my antique no 7 by getting parts off eBay to restore a ‘parts plane’. It ended up being cheaper slightly by also much easier to actually find! If you’re having trouble and REALLY want one, it might be viable
@@mrme2052 awesome advice, thanks so much!
7s are pretty big. I only have planes up to 6. I think I may have three sixes though? I almost bought a 7 once. It was like a canoe. They weren't exactly giving it away either. Have you ever actually seen a 7 in person? They're like 2 feet long. It's a big plane. They're a storage issue to own.
My “main” plane is a Record number 7. I use it for almost all my planing. Shorter planes don’t feel quite right, after all that experience with a number 7. ( I’m not sure if they are still being made; the design is a copy of Stanley.) I don’t hear any mention of the Record brand; I think the quality is very good. I also have a Stanley number 4. Doesn’t work as well, but then, it has a different purpose. Maybe, I haven’t been able to get it sharp enough.
@@davidkantor7978 to woodwork you have to get sharpening down to a process. Don't listen to the freehand folks they're full of it. Get an Eclipse style guide. The far eastern knock offs need some work to get them up to snuff but you can do that in a few minutes with a hand file. The casting on the bed is a bit rough when you get it. So flatten that for good contact. I hand sharpened for decades and it's just too how ya doing. With the guide it never varies. I'm much happier with the results I achieve now. The edges I'm getting are so precise. Like razor blades. I'd also say hollow grinding chisels and plane irons is essential to do too. Honing the whole bevel is for the birds. So step up your sharpening game. There's UA-camrs with agendas. So they're not being entirely honest. Or maybe they're just idiots? I can't tell sometimes. It takes a certain amount of gear to do it right though. Namely the bench grinder and a guide. I know it's more stuff but you need it. Technically you can do it without that. I did it that way myself. That's far from the best way though.
Hi James, I'm a novice woodworker and a relatively new subscriber to your channel. I really enjoy your content.
My dad gave me my great-grandfather's old Stanley Bailey No. 4-1/2 and I put a new iron in it. It works but I still need to do some tuning. I won't get rid of that plane because of the family history but I'm looking to add at least one more plane right now (looking for a 5-1/2 or 6) and I am struggling with the buy once cry once new or find a decent vintage plane and fix it up. I, like you, love the idea of using something that other people have used and spent a life with making projects but there's also the "I just want it to work and work well right away mentality"
Anyways I am curious if you've had any experience with the Kunz Plus line of hand planes out of Germany? TayTools and Highland woodworking sell them but there are very few reviews that I can find. I know Rex Krueger made a video where he uses the No. 4 from Kunz but I was hoping to find more reviews. They look decent and moderately priced, although they do not currently make a No. 5-1/2. Anyways I was just curious if you had any experience with them.
Thanks!
Nick
They are decent, though quality can very a bit.
For my case the answer is simple: but new ones. Where I live, the old vintage one costs from five up to ten times more than the new ones. I'm a newbie hobbyist in fine woodworking, so cheap are good to start with...
You can get old stanley planes that are cheap on line and the pictures should show you what sort of condition they are in.
An other great options is to make your own wooden planes as well.
@@bighands69 here in Brazil, old rusty stanely planes are costing five times more than a cheap new one.
@@mosconirmg Yeah I'm sure you're chained to a tree. Excuses, excuses. Instead of going to the beach on vacation go on a tool buying junket. Ah the City of Brotherly Love. Look kids that's the Liberty Bell. Well I have to go to the farmers market. See ya! Poppa's got tools he's just got to buy.
@@1pcfred I don't know if you're trolling but in case you're not : Not everyone live in the land of the freedom
Flea markets containing hand tools seems like a specificity of the north american market than a global rule
Taking a plane or a train ticket just to hope finding tools in a flea market is also not an option when the ticket already 10 times more than the tools you're willing to buy
Importing or buying new is the only option for a lot of people
@@uwyphi we let just about anyone come here to visit. You're not on a terrorist watch list, are you? People from all over the world come to the USA just to buy tools. It's a real thing. Some of them buy containers to ship what they found back home. I was just out at a sale this morning and he was selling a Makita power hand plane in the case for $10. If I didn't already have one I might have picked it up. It looked barely used to me.
I like Stanley, craftsmen, Sargent, Ohio, union, and function works well.
Found three Craftsman planes (possibly from the 1950s) at a local antique store (range in size from a Stanley 5-7 comparatively). Are they still good users, or should I just look at Stanley’s. Seller is asking around $135 for the group of 3.
That range. They're probably still a decent user. At that point. The quality has started to go down but it's not horrible yet.
thank you
It’s true: in continental Europe, a decent vintage plane can really cost you - the only place in which they’re not rare is the UK, and we have to pay considerable import fees since 52 % of Brits had the bright idea to leave the European Union. No such thing as picking up a rusty Stanley for 5 bucks at a fleamarket.
I’m glad I bought a few expertly restored planes from Tooltique (see James’s list) - not because I wouldn’t have the time to restore a plane (strange argument imho, since hand tool woodworking is really time-consuming anyway), but because I wouldn’t have *really* known if I was doing it right, and this way I now know that vintage planes can be amazing.
Still waiting for Lie Nielsen to start shipping to retailers in Germany again - I’d like to own one new premium handplane, just to know what it’s like, and because I have one empty space left in my collection: a 62, mainly for shooting board use - and I also want the toothed iron for scrubbing.
Have you considered Clifton they are a good solid plane as well.
Last time I was on Lie Nielsen's website absolutely everything was out of stock. Makes me wonder what's going on with them. I think they were a flu causality? It didn't look good. Least the site is still up.
Dieter Schmid sells Juuma planes which are very, very nice for the price, got my number 5 from there
It's above the 100 obviously, but it's still half cheaper than high end planes and you won't get a bedrock in this shape at this price ever in the EU from my experience
According to their website, Lie Nielsen are operating normally, they just seem to have a huge backlog, so I’m guessing they will fulfill direct/US orders first, before starting to ship large quantities abroad. Maybe expanding their capacities is simply not an option, at least not temporarily, who knows.
It looks like I could actually order directly and deal with import headaches myself - not sure if I want to do that: I don’t urgently need that plane, I’d just like to have it. I’ll keep an eye on it.
better use cheap or expensive blade $ plane for scrub plane?
Most people use old beaters for scrub planes. I literally used and old busted Stanley 78 rabbit plane for that. Just cut a high camber in the blade and go to town.
Bought a cheap number 4 on amazon, it had two irons so I just swap the iron when scrubbing
thank you
And ugh the new Stanley sweet hearts... My first new planes besides my old trusty Stanley's we're their #4 and #62. The#62 is acceptable n handy but their #4 I wish I would've saved a Lil more n got a veritas or LN. Their #4 is like TWICE as heavy plus I'm not fond of their new lateral adjuster(can't think of the name for that type of adjuster) really really prefer the old Stanley 4 to new
I hope this doen't go against the comment rules but I've found a few old Stanley planes on Ebay and Craigslist. a Number.7, 5, 3. Try to do your best finding them from before WWII.
Buy and old plane and restore it!!! (Then buy what you can’t get) 😎
I love that shirt!
Reported 1 spammer. I have mostly old planes, all Stanley. I do want to get a veritas someday.
Weekday first!!!!
What's happening with the collaboration plane restoration? Hand Tool Rescue has a japanning video and then it's going to you and Rex for more bits?
We are all going to release our videos at the same time when it's done. It will probably be late this year or early next year.
You can add this store to your map
Joys antiques
400 Nottingham Rd, Quarryville, PA 17566
Just added it.
First world problems. I tend to buy whatever I can lay my hands on, and that is few and far between. Thing you lot consider to be junk cannot even be had in any form or shape over here.
I think if I buy one more tool (and trust me I do need more - honest!!) I have a feeling my photo will be on a milk carton, and various vital anatomical parts will be ermm... removed. I'm trying to ingratiate myself to every old woodworker I know or his widow so I get something in the will....
Really excellent tips, James! Thanks!!! 😃
Soon I'm probably going to buy some planes... But probably from China. We shall see. 😬
Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
2nd. I may have over indulged in vintage planes recently.
DIY wooden planes are an option too if you want to invest the time. I've even seen some nutcase make one out of pine and it worked! :)
IMO someone who has no experience with planes should not undertake a restoration on his first purchase. This is a tricky, subtle tool and until one knows what to aim for, restoration can be very frustrating. You also risk buying an expensive problem and spending too much money on parts. If people don't have $250 for a new plane ready to go, I recommend buying a restored user from a reputable dealer.
BOAT ANCHORS 😂
Great info but I really do like the Varitas and time Is money.
Using an old Plane as a boat anchor wouldn't be much good, I doubt even the 5 on the table tied together would hold a boat against a light breeze
That Craftsman plane was made by Millers Falls.
Manufacturers used to make things to the best of their ability, and then price it accordingly. Now, a lot of the junk is made to a set price point. If you have the chance to hold them both in your hand, you will put the junk down, and slowly back away.
The modern world is built on outsourced manufactured junk. Buy well buy once it is that simple. Too many people are obsessed with cheap prices.
Stanley always made junk. They used the threads they did in their planes because it was crap they couldn't sell. They made taps and dies too.
Nick Engler over at Workshop Companion has a fantastic video about a Harbor Freight bench plane. It would lead me to believe it is a pretty terrible choice for a beginner even if you were willing to put in lots of time to make is usable. ua-cam.com/video/QSnLgE7fWCQ/v-deo.html
Rob cosman compared the lie Nielson and the wood river in a video and the fit and finish is nearly identical
There is a reason for that.
Rob Cosman also cut dovetails with a sharpened screwdriver so he's a little suspect.
Harbor freight hand plane… A couple dozen bucks he says…Really being generous, not worth a couple dozen cents