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Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

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Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#1

Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Alex Horn

>I just recently purchased a Stanley #7 type 13 plane for $70 at a flea market, it is in good - very good condition with 95+ % of the the japanning and sill has it's original label on the handle. A comparable Stanley #7 in similar condition just sold on eBay for $180. Should I sell the plane and make a quick profit or should I keep the plane, fix it up and use it? If I do sell it will I be able to replace it with a better new plane in the $180 price range?

Thanks

Alex

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#2

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

David Miller from Iowa

>Sort of philosophical question. IF you can get $180 out it (it must be near mint) you could swap it out for a user grade and maybe be $75-$100 to the good. Personally, I would keep and use it. Normal use and care shouldn't reduce the value.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#3

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Dean J From MN

>Are you a user or collector? :-)

Use it!

-Dean

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#4

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I just did a quick search of completed auctions and most #7 are going for $20-$60 with 3-4 breaking $100. So inless you find that one right person who is bidding against that other right person I betting you will have a hard time recouping you money let alone making a proffit. I would use it.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#5

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell? *LINK*

walt quadrato

>Gotta go with Ernie on this one..$70 is about average. Can't even begin to imagine how bidding went that high($180) on a #7. I generally put #7's out for $70-$85 but they've been properly tuned & sharpened. Use it and don't look back...

walt q


new stuff

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#6

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell? *LINK*

Alex Horn

>Thanks for your input - I think i will take your advise and use the plane. FYI here is the eBay link to the recently sold plane


eBay Auction

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#7

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I saw that one it is a sharp clean plane. I hope yours is that nice. you deserve it. use it with pride.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#8

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Todd Hughes

>This was a very nice plane that sold on ebay, no doubt about it. but if you look at the bidding history it was only two new guys,[one has 1 feedback the other has 0] that took it past $100. what would it have did if the one guy,who now has a nice #7, wasn't bidding? don't know but with out his help I am sure it wouldn't have made $180 and I bet yours wouldn't do it either. Was curious to see the bidding history that all the bids after $50 or so was from new guys.With bidding like this you can't really say a fair and normal vaule on a plane like this is $180

If a user I would personaly sell it and buy one more suited for a user.Truthfuly though if you are just going to use it on a limited bases probaly wouldn't afect anything as long you are careful.If you decide to keep it i would think about picking up a "User" tote to save the one that still has the decale....Todd

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#9

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Alex Horn

>I would agree with your observation about the bids there did seem to be a couple of new ebayers just itching to spend their money on the plane.

I would currently categorize myself as a hobbyist user and I would probably only use the plane occasionally. Therefore, I think I will get it tuned up and put it to use. Good idea about replacing the tote.

Thanks

Alex

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#10

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>Heck you might even get 20-25 for the tote alone.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#11

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Todd Hughes

>Last one with a decal on it i sold on ebay went for almost $40 if I remember right...OH! Befor we go down that path again it was from a donar plane that looked like it had commited suicide by leaping off a bench brecking the entire front end off.No doubt despondant about not being used....Don't want anyone to think a healthy happy plane was dismemebered.....Todd

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#12

I was theon of the bidders!!!

Gerry Doll

>Todd,

I was the Bidder with 0 previous. You may be right that we ran the price up, but based on the info, it appeared to be a damn near mint early 1900's # 7. As a newbie, maybe I was in over my head.

However, when compared to $400.00 for an LN, $379.00 for a Chilton, $129.00 for a "new" Record, or 79.00 for an Anant, in comparison, it did not appear to be so bad.

On the other hand, I did breathe a sigh of relief when I was outbid.

Now to open the proverbial can of worms!!!!! I'm looking to build a new bench. Simple, construction lumber design. Want to attempt with hand tools. Currently possess Bailey 6, Anant Jack, Record 4, and ( forgive me) a Buck Brothers Jack transmorgrified into a scrub. I was looking to purchase that 7 for a jointer.

??? Can I get away with using the 6 as a jointer? If not, what jointer would be recomended for a newbie??? LV 6, Anant, Record, Knight???

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#13

Alex, I was the other bidder!!

Gerry Doll

>

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#14

You were OK.

Roger Nixon

>That was a very nice plane and it would have given you a lifetime of service. If you paid more than the average price it wouldn't have been a big mistake.

A #6 will work fine on your bench so you don't have to be in a rush to pick up a #7. I would recommend you get a #7 at some point because it is a very useful plane.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#15

A Question...

Todd Hughes

>Was wondering why as a user you would be prepared to pay a large premium for a near mint plane rather then get one that was in very good to excellent condition that would be perhaps more appropriate as a user and would perform just the same and be cheaper as well? Now I'm not saying settle for a beat rust bucket, we all like nice tools, but why as a user would you need a near mint plane? Just curious.....Does go to support my belief that unlike what many think the high prices for most tools is from Users and NOT collectors who often get a bad rap for running the prices up.....Todd

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#16

An Asnwer

Gerry Doll

>Todd,

As I stated earlier, I'm a neophyte, and may have hit the slippery slope running. However,

1. Due to my past experience in tuning an old Bailey 6, a new Anant Jack, and a new Record 4, I have come to the conclusion that I greatly prefer woodworking to metal working. Not to offend the metallurgists and blacksmiths lurking among us, I became interested in planing because I don't like sanding wood, let alone hours of sanding metal. It appears that some of the esteemed gentlemen on this sight prefer working on their tools, rather than working with them. I assumed the purchase of a pre WWII Bailey in mint condition would save some heart ache, not to mention rotator cuff tendonitis in the tuning process. I am still having nightmares involving plate glass and sandpaper.

2. I thought my bids were somewhat logical, based on the current sales price of high end jointers, i.e. LN, Chilton. Another option appears to be a current Record or Anant, with a much lower price, but with the possibility of getting a flawed casting and hours on aforesaid plate glass.

Following the above logic, 150 -175 for a mint pre WWII Bailey made sense at the time.

As I stated, I did breathe a sigh of relief when outbid by Alex. I would love to know the actual condition of the plane, ie flat, concave, pitting , etc.

Gerry,

Not looking forward to living in a van down by the river.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#17

One caveat

Roger Nixon

>Just because a tool is in pristine condition doesn't mean it is in good working shape. Sometimes a tool is unused because there is something wrong with it.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#18

Re: An Asnwer *LINK*

walt quadrato

>"Gerry,

Not looking forward to living in a van down by the river. "

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...don't know if a lot got that one..but I did. Gerry: With old tools (or fools as the case may be)there's one thing you gotta remember...there's always another one around the next corner. And probably at a better price. :-)I understand what you mean by metalworking..but I cut my teeth as a toolmaker so tuning planes is no big whoop for me..and I can appreciate woodworkers who don't want to spend time working on a tool to do work..kinda defeats the purpose.

Don't worry about the slide..though it never really ends

walt q


brass city toolworks

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#19

Re: An Asnwer

Todd Hughes

>I think today when a wood worker spends time "tuning" a plane he is Fixing a "problim" that comes from the original factory and in most cases was not caused by the plane seeing use.A frog doesn't need to be fitted better and a sole flattened because of light to moderate use but because of how the plane was made originaly.A Mint plane could have the same "problims". The point could be made that by buying a plane that has seen moderate period use and was taken care of perhaps it has been "tuned" already or didn't need it to perform well for it's original owner....or for you......Todd

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#20

Good point!!!

Gerry Doll

>

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#21

Re: An Asnwer

Gerry Doll

>True, but from my previously stated limited experience, and the photos published, I simply assumed that this plane would not require electrolysis, a vist to a machine shop, hours on 100 grit paper, or the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune to which lesser planes suffer.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#22

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

Victor Parisian - Houston

>I think $70.00 is pretty much a nice user. I was bidding on this too. I quit somewhere around $100.00.

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#23

Re: An Asnwer

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>Gerry, I can remember getting jumped on by Todd at least once for overpaying for stuff. Go back and read what Roger, Todd and Walt are telling you...cuz there telling ya straight. If you wanta know about cold cuts, ask the guy at the deli counter. If you want to know about oldtools...ask a galoot.

If you want an inexpensive jointer that won't need much work and perform as good as a LN, LV or Vintage Stanley......one day you'll choose a Knight

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#24

Re: Van Down By The River *LINK*

Tom Price

>Regarding the Van Down By The River, Gerry might have been referring to some words of advice posted on my site. Maybe worth thinking about for Galoots that may be 'in over their heads' especially if they have a SWMBO looking over their shoulders as they snipe that possibly overpriced burfle off of Ebay.

- Tom


How to avoid ending up in a Van Down By The River

Re: Stanley #7 Use or Sell?

#25

Re: An Asnwer

Patrick Gibbons, Houston, TX

>I have overpaid for tools off of the bay but only considered it to be overpaying if the tool was not as described or as I thought it actually was. I have purchased items with the "buy it now" option and paid a few bucks more than I wanted but knew I was getting the item and not losing it to a sniper in the last few seconds. For me, if I really wanted the item, it was worth a premium. Moderately priced planes that are new and of an acceptable quality are nonexistent. If I pay less for a plane on ebay than I would if I bought a Stanley or Record new than it's a good price, provided it's a plane that I want.

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