Woodworkers?

[jmm]

Today's my day off, the first after a long week which means time to knock out some chores. Was straightening up around the house and came to a flea market buy from a year ago. At the time I was incredibly excited to find a bunch of old hand planes on a junk table at a flea market. They looked sort of pitiful beside a pile of uninteresting steel. But they caught my eye. These were VERY old, and VERY well kept. Thought they were stolen until I met their former owner; the older guy that had the tent, turns out, was a hobbyist/collector, who was selling off some of his collection. Long story short, I bought about 10 wooden body planes in beautiful condition. Some even have a price tag affixed as if they were purchased at the same shop in the UK (in pounds).

I don't know what to do with them. They're way above my skill set in terms of wood-work. But they're a kind of weird item to unload via the internet, know what I mean? I'd rather have these appreciated, then taken by some impulse buying fool like myself. What would you do?

 

[rust buster]

I can understand your dilemma, I'd be thinking the same thing. I'd go over to sawmillcreek.org forum, which is a great place for this stuff. They go crazy over old hand planes.

 

[BWS]

Its pretty much a given that,when "looking" for equip/tools...you need patience.Well,the same can be said for selling.Be patient....check the planes out.Which sizes do you think would work for....?IOW's,try to see what the tool's original intent was/is.

 

[woody 73]

old wooden hand planes are fun to use and you will not hurt them, with that being said you need to find a collector that would house them in a collection.

 

[Givl Reggin]

I don't know what to do with them.... What would you do?

Buy a hanging glass case the kind with a mirrored back and display them in your shop - I have a number of old items on display in both the shop and throughout the house that are merely decoration.

 

[camarotoolman]

You can compare prices on feebay. the wooden body ones don't bring the money like the Stanley iron planes. As above they are neat the display and use. Where do you live in W. NC.? That sure is beautiful country!

 

[jmm]

You can compare prices on feebay. the wooden body ones don't bring the money like the Stanley iron planes. As above they are neat the display and use. Where do you live in W. NC.? That sure is beautiful country!

I'm in the upper end of Cleveland County, near the South Mountains. Love it.

I actually have two of the old Stanleys, and a couple newer knock-offs. Those, I can use on the odd piece I might decide to build. I've tried to use those wood-body planes with some success, but it takes a good bit more skill -- not just in use, but in tuning the planes as well. I don't pretend to be a woodworker, though, so I really have no business holding them hostage.

Compared to what I paid, ebay prices are outrageous! All I need's peace of mind they'll go somewhere to be appreciated...and my money back (or close to it). Gonna check sawmillcreek and a few others today. Thanks for the tips guys!

 

[Erampu]

How 'bout some pictures?

 

[Gary S]

Forget about collectors. Tools were meant to be used, not looked at or played with. If you don't do woodworking, run a local ad and sell them to someone who will use them.

 

[jmm]

How 'bout some pictures?

Here ya go:

Far left is a Clearcut draw knife and an unmarked turning (?) chisel. The big plane up top isn't marked, but the blade reads Hearnshaw Bros, Cast Steel, Sheffield. The one beside it isn't marked either, but the blade says Governor Brand on the blade. Below those are two profile-cutting planes: the lighter one is marked on the body 'J Buck/91 Waterloo/London', the darker is marked on the body 'Hambleton' and 'S.G. Pearcy'. There are two price tags on the darker one, the first says 'c.1840, 10 pounds, Kaye', the second says 'Hambleton C. 1832'. Next are two Stanley no 78s. The one on the right is the body only. I believe the one at left is complete. The level at the bottom is hard to read. All I can see is 'Trade Mark Ho[--can't read--] Made in England' and 'Warranted Correct, no. 1622'.

What do you think?

 

[jmm]

Forget about collectors. Tools were meant to be used, not looked at or played with. If you don't do woodworking, run a local ad and sell them to someone who will use them.

Normally, my sentiment would run something like that. But ratchets, these ain't. They require A LOT more care and expertise than an old wrench or something, you know?

 

[BQuicksilver]

Just learn what they are and unload them on eBay. I promise they'll get bids and only people who know how to care for them would be willing to bid well on an old hand plane. There are enough collectors out there that you'll be fine in terms of both $$ and future care.

 

[RivennHewn]

Do a little research on Ebay. watch a few auctions end and see what they go for.

I think you'll find that the going rate is not as much as you'd expect.

The metal planes are all but worthless.

The drawknife and chisel might bring more than the planes.

I"m at about 750 Ebay transactions, and I spend a lot of time in the vintage tool section.

 

[DavidB]

If you enjoy woodworking you might want to give them a try. I do woodworking as a hobby and enjoy using older tools. I find that once you've sharpened the irons on planes and taken a little time to set them up they work quite well. I find the regular planes useful for flattening boards that won't fit on my planer. I have a few profile planes but mustly just play with them. I think your chisel is actually a corner chisel used for cleaning up the corners in mortises. The handle is too small to be used for turning. I've been keeping my eye out for one. Draw knives are useful too. If you don't mind investing the time in sharpening the edges with a stone you might be surprised at how well they all can work.

 

[rick carpenter]

You got some good stuff. Forget about your 'skill level', get some scrap wood, and start playing with them. You never know, you might get the woodworking bug too. Sawmillcreek is a good place to get advice.

 

[KenC]

You got some good stuff. Forget about your 'skill level', get some scrap wood, and start playing with them. You never know, you might get the woodworking bug too. Sawmillcreek is a good place to get advice.

Agree with that advice. You do know how the really good woodworkers got to their 'skill level' right? Practice. So, hone them to a nice edge and make some shavings. When the shavings get about ankle deep around the bench, you'll be an expert!

 

[fsdogwood]

Here ya go:

Far left is a Clearcut draw knife and an unmarked turning (?) chisel. The big plane up top isn't marked, but the blade reads Hearnshaw Bros, Cast Steel, Sheffield. The one beside it isn't marked either, but the blade says Governor Brand on the blade. Below those are two profile-cutting planes: the lighter one is marked on the body 'J Buck/91 Waterloo/London', the darker is marked on the body 'Hambleton' and 'S.G. Pearcy'. There are two price tags on the darker one, the first says 'c.1840, 10 pounds, Kaye', the second says 'Hambleton C. 1832'. Next are two Stanley no 78s. The one on the right is the body only. I believe the one at left is complete. The level at the bottom is hard to read. All I can see is 'Trade Mark Ho[--can't read--] Made in England' and 'Warranted Correct, no. 1622'.

What do you think?

The drawknife is nice!
The corner chisel (I've a new one) looks good, depending on how wide each side, could
be useful for either house building (the old way if > 1/2") or cabinet work (square the
mortise, if <= 1/2"). As I said, I've one, but haven't used it, even if I've cut some mortises.
The usage may be decided how you cut the mortise.

The stanley 78s could be useful for making rebates.

The longer wooden, handled plane could be a jack, charpening it, would be nice to use.

For the shorter wooden, coffin smoother, you may want to check how close (wide) the
mouth is, and maybe you could repair the mouth (being a smoother, you want the
mouth to be narrow (< 1/16", preferably 1/32" )

HTH

Pinwu

 

[dandan111]

That's some nice tools. I have a few things like that taking up space. If your not doing a this old house series I would sell them. eBay them.
I try to stay away from flea markets that kind of stuff always follows me home.