Fun, not fast

[dave d]

I second Dave's comment about old 'user' planes. Sure, I have a couple of Veritas planes that will last for several lifetimes, but I also have come across some very nice Stanley's (and one really poor Stanley, so you do have to know what to look for). There's a local woodworking/craft center where a fellow had posted an ad for some planes that he was selling. I think he gets them from estate sales, flea markets, etc. and then re-sells them. Works for me as he has done the work in sourcing them and knows what to buy and what to avoid. As an example, he currently has a No. 6 Stanley or Sargent that he is selling for $90 (negotiable). It looks good in the photos but I'll check it out in person and if I like it, will pick it up. I figure that at worst, if the iron isn't great I'll buy an aftermarket blade for about $40 and I'll have a very "don't make 'em like they used to" plane for about 1/3 the cost of a Lee-Nielsen. I know that's not quite an apples to apples comparison. I could also end up with something that doesn't have the accuracy that I desire, but I suspect it is unlikely I will be dissatisfied. I'll do a follow-up post and let you know!
I think the point I was trying to make is that there are two ways to go (in my humble opinion): buy a good quality new plane, or a good quality old plane. Buying a new off-shore made plane like Groz, when you are trying to get a quality tool that shaves wood in the range of thousandths of an inch, is a waste of money. I did that, and just gave it away to someone who didn't need any amount of precision or a flat sole. Plenty of woodworking forums have similar experience with them, FWIW.