While researching Stanley planes, I discovered that buying used Stanley planes on eBay was generally recommended as the best option. Why?
Apparently, Stanley planes of the past were made to better quality standards than the current production models. Plus, there’s a good chance that the old planes were already set up, sharp and ready to be used.
Taking a look at the available Stanley Planes on Amazon, I see that most of the current production versions retail for about $45, use plastic totes and knobs, and have about 3-4 star reviews. The older Stanley planes used wood – rosewood, birch, etc. – for the handles and knobs.
Plus, as you can see from the reviews, the new Stanley planes are not set up well enough for accurate use right out of the box. In my previous Stanley 60 1/2 block plane review, I detailed the necessary steps of setting up a new hand plane. You might also argue at below $50, how much can you expect?
So I went on a mission to find a used Stanley plane from eBay that was in excellent condition, and hopefully cost me less than $45 shipped to Malaysia. All my local options were the new, low-quality Stanley planes.
The Quality of Used Stanley Planes on eBay
I’ve purchased brand new planes before – the Taytools #5 jack plane and the Stanley 60 1/2 hand plane. The Taytools plane was pretty well set up, but the Stanley hand plane did require a lot of fine-tuning to get it flat, square and sharp.
In contrast, most used planes from eBay have already been set up, and have been used by real woodworkers to create all kinds of things. In a way, you’re getting a better deal with these used planes since you do not need to spend a lot of time fixing things.
However, you might notice that some Stanley planes, even those in poor condition, sell for a decent chunk of change.
This is due to the collectibility and value of certain types of vintage Stanley planes. They may all look the same to you, but this vintage Stanley plane guide will give you a clearer picture of the collector’s value an old Stanley plane can have. I used it to determine the age and type of all the planes I was bidding on.
I didn’t want or need, a collector’s item. I gladly passed on anything that went above my maximum bid of $25. I knew I had to pay about $28 – $40 in international shipping from the US / UK, so I factored that into the total cost.
As it turns out, it was still cheaper to buy a used, conditioned Stanley plane from eBay than it was to buy a brand new one.
I was outbid many times and sniped just as frequently. I finally got lucky and won a Stanley No.4 smoothing plane in decent condition for GBP 6.03 – about $7.50. Shipping and import fees were about GBP 35!
If you only need to pay local shipping for these planes, you can afford to bid more than me. Still, I was overjoyed.
I Got a Used Stanley No. 4 from eBay
When it finally arrived, I gave it a test drive, and it sliced wood like a hot knife through butter. In fact, for a plane made in the late 50s, this hand tool was still going strong!
The seller, or someone, had refurbished and setup this Stanley No. 4. I heard that some people make good money fixing and flipping these old Stanley planes.
One thing to pay attention to is the handle (or tote?). A lot of the older planes had cracked or split handles that were fixed using glue, and refinished with shellac. If you look closely, you can still see a horizontal line on the handle.
I wanted to avoid these, as it just might split in two again sometime soon.
I also wanted to avoid the Stanley planes that used plastic handles or plastic adjustment wheels. The brass wheel on mine worked perfectly. The Stanley No. 4 has a nice weight and feel to it, and I can see myself using this plane for almost everything I need to do.
A few days after winning the Stanley, I also won a Record No. 4 /12 smoothing plane for GBP 20, which was right at my max bid limit of $25. Although I haven’t taken pictures of it, I can safely say that the Record plane was also beautifully set up.
These pictures are from the Ebay listing:
In fact, at the moment I like the Record No 4 1/2 more than the Stanley No. 4. It has a little more heft, and the blade was was sharper.
Of course, I would need to fine-tune both these planes for a better comparison.
- If you’re worried about having to restore used Stanley planes from eBay, don’t. If you choose the right auction, you’ll have a plane that is ready to be used.
- Read the item description to know more about the condition of the cutting iron, since it may not be evident from pictures
- Avoid handles/totes that appear to have been fixed or re-glued.
- Don’t bid too high. There are a LOT of used Stanley and Record planes on eBay. Look for great deals.
I’m now hunting for a Stanley No. 5 Jack Plane with a corrugated bottom. I’ve been outbid on two of them already, but I know I will eventually have mine.
What do you think about buying used Stanley planes from eBay?
