Buying Woodworking Tools is Becoming Stupid
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I too found hand routers very expensive on ebay, so after some unsuccessful attempts at buying a used one, I gave it a try with a diy version made from some oak, leftover aluminium and some hardware as well as a newly bought Veritas blade. I’m still looking for an 1/2″ or 3/4″ blade though as they’re out of stock.
That is a rather cool router plane. Well done!
Could you please post some more photos and tell us more about the construction?Tia,
E.
Veni, vidi, serravi.
Münster, Germany
Sure, here you you.
I guess this picture gives a good overview on the assembly. This was actually more an experiment initially to see if the attachment of handles without through holes would provide enough stability in its usage. It worked well enough. All metal parts are screwed to the top of the base, so there’s no metal on the bottom.
Oak base was laminated from three pieces and planed with a #4. Ok, my sharpening technique wasn’t that good yet last year, so I’ll better not show any close-ups 😉
Handles and metal parts (except rods) were made on a metal lathe, handles from maple round stock. The finish is shellac with wenge dye for darker coloring. For the base, I just applied some linseed oil and waxed it.looks like $100 worth of work to me. But I’d rather work $100 than spend $100. Very nice.
Fortunately, time is not a factor hobbyists like me care so much about, after all, we’re doing this for fun, aren’t we?
I understand however new tool availability is an issue to professional woodworkers when you need the tool ready to do the work now and can’t spend a long time on ebay searching for a good-enough option or building the second best yourself is not good enough either because of the time required.Does anyone have any idea why Stanley no longer make router planes if they are so sought after?
Stanley doesn’t design and make tools in the way they once did. Toolmaking is not their business any more.
Its now a large Corporation that takes-over smaller companies, using their established names, then sources ready-made products from Mexico, China…
Buy cheap, stack ’em high!Stanley is Stanley/Record/Irwin/Marples/Mole/Dewalt/Black & Decker… and many more.
Prices might be better for some tools on the West coast.I know where there is a collector quality 71 right now in what could be termed near new old stock for $125. All cutters, the fence, the mouth closer, and a box. Perfect.
This is in an antique mall stall that specializes in old hand tools. Prices are usually quite fair and priced to move. He’d probably cut a few dollars for a regular customer if you catch him there on Saturday.
I don’t expect it will be there long. It might not have lasted the weekend, but tools are still out there. He gets 5 or 6 a year.
Shame, but sounds about right – profit before product! It makes sense then why they don’t have one of these smaller companies making router planes – they must think that market is too small to profit from. As regards the second hand market, I think I’d rather invest in a new Lie Nielsen router plane at around £150-160 (UK prices) than pay the silly prices on Ebay for a second hand one.
I collected tools and other antiques for a few years before every deciding to try to sharpen and use a plane, which is when I found paul and his videos, so i fully understand the climb in certain tools value or prices, and have seen first hand the paul sellers effect on ebay. routers are definitely a lot more expensive then they were at one point, though I feel like they settled in a little bit and were even higher not long ago. I have to wonder though, what makes the prices “ridiculous”? I still find them to be worth what im paying. theyre so useful and are a lifetime tool unless you drop them on concrete.
if its not worth it to you then its not worth it. if its worth it to you and you dont have the cash right now, spend a weekend carving spoons and sell them for extra funds 🙂
Or, what I used to do – buy the tools that you can find cheap locally and trade or sell them for profit to put towards a router or whatever you need.Hi Keith,
Point taken, although I believe the words I used were ‘silly’ prices and not ‘ridiculous’. Nevertheless, maybe ‘silly’ was overstating it a bit. However, cash supply isn’t the problem, it was more a comment on the way prices tend to get pushed up on eBay when something is pushed into the ‘trendy’ or ‘collectable’ category. Perhaps more explanation was needed for those that might not have realised this such as yourself.
When faced with buying an older rust pitted tool (which may or may not possibly have further issues unseen) from eBay or a new tool from a quality maker such as Veritas or Lie Neilsen for a very similar price, I will go with the new option. Although, in saying that some older tools do feel better on the hand when using them than newer ones. I think the Japanese have a term for it – ‘wabi sabi’ – which I think means (and I’m sure someone will correct me if I get this wrong) accepting and enjoying the imperfection (wear and tear etc.) of an object’s journey in life.
I do actually get a great deal of pleasure restoring any old tools I can find or get a hold of and passing them onto people I know who don’t have the means to buy them for themselves. Did you know there are really cool charities out there who put together toolkits that are sent to countries where there is a great deal of youth poverty. The toolkits are usually given to young people who can go on to earn a living using them. We’re talking countries like Togo, Guatemala, Liberia, Madagascar, etc.
Also, I find I can still pick up old unwanted tools at local car boot sales, junk shops, small ads and local auctions for prices nowhere near what the same items are going for on eBay. Yes, I know I would be tempting to sell my finds for profit like some collectors and there’s nothing wrong with that. I just prefer my way.
Thanks for your reply.
For those looking in Canada I have found good luck with Kijiji. I have often found some collectors that are needing to thin out there collections for various reasons. One I found IN Drayton, Ontario, has a decent size collection of planes, chisels, saws, braces, etc. Prices varied a bit based on the age/where made. Most of the items were identified based on where the marking stamps were, the size of the marking etc. Some had cracks in the wood handles or needed handles but others were quite good. Pricing wise id say they are less expensive than what folks have listed here. Grabbed a #4 Stanley, Made in England for 85$ Canadian. There were options for chisels sets as well.
Following some of the theme here i thought i would show you my progress in re making the Edward Preston/Tyzack 1399P Router plane. My aim is to make it available some time during 2020 but it depends on a number of key stages.
I have a new 1399 pattern for casting based on the Tyzack model but with Made in England cast into it. I have had a batch of castings made for prototyping purposes and I now have a working prototype. Having reviewed the first one I am working on getting a few made to enable some further independent testing. Mine differs from the original in that it accepts the more easily available blades from the Record / Stanley / or Veritas router plane. This first prototype has a veritas blade installed. I have also used ductile iron to improve strength and to keep costs reasonable. If you want to know more about what I am trying to do take a look at http://www.teesvalleytoolworks.co.uk. My plan is to gauge global interest in the tool and if there is the demand I will gear up to make them. If the interest is there I will launch the manufacturing via Kickstarter which is a crowd funding platform see https://www.kickstarter.com/.
I am trying to get a price and quality similar to Veritas and Lie Nielsen router plane for around £150 just under $200. If you want one or more let me know.
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