Replies

1. 
   boilerbay | Jul 01, 2009 02:52am | #1

   Sparky,

   A run of the mill,
   In bad condition -bupkis
   Good condition - maybe 23 to 50 depending on what you call good and what you intend for it.

   Boiler

2. 
   mvflaim | Jul 01, 2009 04:18am | #2

   A rusted old Stanley #7 is worth $20.00. You did the smart thing by walking away.

   http://www.mvflaim.com

3. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 01, 2009 01:57pm | #3

   Jack,

   Sounds like maybe he thinks bigger is worth more.  Bigger = usually more work to me.  There is much gratification to be had by restoring old planes/tools though.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   phil_d | Jul 01, 2009 05:55pm | #5

   My wife bought me a Stanley #322 block plane at an antique store for $20 (Father's Day).  It is in pretty good condition, but needs some rust cleaning and tuning, etc.  I know the range of years on this a long time, so how do you estimate it's age?  I did a quick look through Google, but came up mostly with antique dealers.

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 01, 2009 06:30pm | #7

   Hi Phil,

   If you haven't been here already it would be a great place to start finding out a lot about Stanley planes.  http://www.supertool.com/  Be sure to visit Patrick's Blood and Gore pages as well.  Lots' of good info here.

   If you Google stanley plane dating chart there are several WEBsites that have it; one is here.  I tried googling Stanley 322 plane and didn't come up with anything??????  There were several references to 322 posts about plane(s) but that mustn't have been here on Knots....  :-)

   If ye wanna have some fun/work restore an old plane to fine fettle and then upgrade it with an aftermarket blade and chip breaker.  Will give a whole new meaning to old planes.

   View Image  View Image

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   
1. 
   phil_d | Jul 01, 2009 07:00pm | #8

   Bob-  Thanks very much.   I am vacationing down east,  and it is raining. You gave me a whole new opportuninty to lean.  The blood and gore is good reading.   Thanks for the tips.

   (Rain in Maine trumps hot and muggy in GA every day.  ....but I sold my snow blower !)

2. 
   phil_d | Jul 01, 2009 07:04pm | #9

   Bob -  the recovery project is awsome.  I have a new standard to meet !  Thanks.

   Phil

3. 
   phil_d | Jul 01, 2009 08:15pm | #10

   "I tried googling Stanley 322 plane and didn't come up with anything??????" 

   OK, sothe cold air up here in Maine numbed my brain.   I did not relaize how much the blood thins out when you are in GA.  Upon checking the site you suggested, I had my number wrong.  I am the proud owner of a #220, not #322.  I would feel better if the numbers were closer.

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 02, 2009 04:50am | #11

   Phil,

   I'm in northern New Hampshire and my brain is waterlogged from all the rain we've been getting.  No big thang it's all good.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

4. 
   Mackwood | Jul 01, 2009 05:42pm | #4

   Sparky,

   Good move to walk away from that deal!  Antique dealers in my experience are not the best place to pick up user grade tools.  They usually seem to think that theirs are made of gold. Exceptions are out there but few and far between.

   If you're looking for users that will need de-rusting and lots of work you should be able to pick them up for around $20 in the 3-7 sizes; in many case even less.  Research and patience will pay off eventually if you frequent garage sales, flea markets, E-bay, Craig's List, etc.

   Good luck and enjoy the hunt!

   Regards,

   Mack

   "Close enough for government work=measured with a micrometer, marked with chalk and cut with an axe"

5. 
   dkellernc | Jul 01, 2009 06:14pm | #6

   Actually, what that plane was worth very sensitively depends on when it was made, whether it has the original iron and other parts, and how rusty and/or beat up it is. 

   If the rust is just on the surface (i.e., no pitting on the sole, sides, and blade), the parts are original, there's high percentage of the iron left (i.e., it's not badly worn down), and the wooden tote and knob are undamaged, then yeah, it's probably worth $75 (and a whole lot more than $20).

   What also factors into this is the age.  If the plane's from the Sweetheart era, and the above conditions hold true, then it's worth a bit more than $75.  If it's even earlier - say a type 3 through 7, then it's worth somewhere in the order of $130.

   If it's a type 2, about $300.  If it's a type one - well north of $400, and the final selling price at an auction is anyone's guess.  Type 1s are very rare and hotly competed for.

   Of course, condition is everything.  Collectors don't mind a bit of surface rust, but heavy pitting, non-original parts and damaged wood greatly devalues it.

   One thing to note is that a #7 is worth more than a #4 or a #5, principally because of the user market.  Most hand tool junkies want/need a jointer, and Stanley made a lot less of these than the common-as-dirt jack and smoother planes.