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Which plane should I keep?

2K views 18 replies 17 participants last post by  bandit571 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Spending a lot of time in the house. I've started going through drawers to clean and get rid of stuff I don't need or want. I'm doing mostly lathe work right now, but about 25 years ago I was collecting and using antique tools.

I have these two planes (Stanley 45 and Sargent 1080) that I haven't used in decades. I may get back to using these some day, but I certainly don't need two. Neither one is "collector" grade, I don't think, but both seem to be in good user condition. I'm interested in keeping the one that will be easiest to adjust, easiest to use, give good results, etc. If both are very similar, should I keep the Sargent because it has more cutters so may be more versatile? Thanks in advance for any insight you can give.

David
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#5 ·
I believe in buying tools, not so much on selling tools. I can only remember selling 2 tool in the last 50 years. Plus I gave my neighbor a Delta 14" band saw with the understand I could get it back if I ever need it.

I say keep them both
 
#7 ·
I think it very handy to have working tools that fit into the category that I don't use. If you show someone how to do something, or if someone asks about how to do something, and you have a tool to give/sell to them, how cool is that?

For that reason I like to keep a few extra bench planes around, since people frequently are looking for them. The half hour you put into tuning it up can make all the difference in the world to someone starting out.
 
#9 ·
LOL. I was expecting maybe strong opinions on which is better, sort of like Canon v. Nikon. I didn't consider the possibility that everyone would tell me to keep both. You guys would probably also tell me to keep all the other antique tools that have been sitting in my drawers. I should have considered it, as I've also been that guy.

I don't consider myself old (I'm 65), but probably because of what's going on, I had a dream the other night that after I died my kids were stuck with all of my stuff. The least I can do for them, and myself, is to only keep things that I use or might use. I will never use two combination planes or 4 braces, or many old folding rules, or a manual drill press, or that 6th or 7th level, etc.
 
#10 ·
I don't consider myself old (I'm 65), but probably because of what's going on, I had a dream the other night that after I died my kids were stuck with all of my stuff. The least I can do for them, and myself, is to only keep things that I use or might use. I will never use two combination planes or 4 braces, or many old folding rules, or a manual drill press, or that 6th or 7th level, etc.

- Rink
I've been working on a redo in the shop, and while out there I am moving around all of the tubs, boxes, and whatever that house all of my old hand tools. I'm also 65, and like you have thought more about mortality in the last few weeks. So I'm sorting too. I just wonder how many guys just like you, and I, who also are sorting all around the world right now. Nothing in our lifetime has had such a wake up call in regards to mortality, than this Covid crap. Even armed conflict, is easy enough to deflect, if you aren't shipping out.

Weird times.
 
#12 ·
If you want to keep the 'stuff", but don't want your kids stuck with it, just make sure they have the contact info for a few tool auction houses that will pick the stuff up and send them a check when it sells.

Yes, they may loose some, but you get to enjoy it, and so do they.
 
#13 ·
If you want to keep the stuff", but don t want your kids stuck with it, just make sure they have the contact info for a few tool auction houses that will pick the stuff up and send them a check when it sells.

Yes, they may loose some, but you get to enjoy it, and so do they.

- Don W
I have one friend with over 100K in model train gear. He created a spreadsheet that he's distributed to the kids so they don't have a yard sale with it when he passes. He won't part with it otherwise.

As to some of my 'extra tools', I pass them over to my daughter who is gradually getting handier around the house.

Iain
 
#14 ·
I'm with AlaskaGuy; The only tool I've sold was a Craftsman Tablesaw after I bought my Unisaw (new, almost 30 years ago), and then to a friend who was just getting started. I've given some to rummage sales at church or the kids' schools.

Think about this, though… Your friends and relatives might want to have something that you enjoyed using, whether they plan to use it, or just keep it to remember you by. Or they might prefer the $ from selling it after you're gone.

But if you sell your tools now, you are taking that choice away from them.

I recently lost my best friend, who had a nice woodworking shop, with some nice tools, and some not so nice. I was over helping his widow with some stuff in the house, and needed a wrench from his shop. She had not opened it since he passed. So I went down to the shop to retrieve the wrench. It was like he just left, expecting to come back the next day or so and finish up. His glasses were on the bench, next to some tools and a little project he was working on. He had told me and his wife that whatever was in the shop was mine if I wanted it. I had considered before which tools I might want, and which I did not, but I started looking around. Lots of little things I remember using with him in his shop, or just watching him use. But now I'll keep some others too, since I have the choice…
 
#15 ·
Don't saddle your heirs with the choice of what to do with your junk. If you're not using it, then dispose of it now. If you leave it for them to decide, it will likely end up in the dumpster, or bought as a lot for pennies.
 
#16 ·
Don t saddle your heirs with the choice of what to do with your junk. If you re not using it, then dispose of it now. If you leave it for them to decide, it will likely end up in the dumpster, or bought as a lot for pennies.

- Phil32
I've already made a list and taken pictures of stuff I want to sell (I decided to keep the Sargent and sell the Stanley, BTW). I'll be posting here and a couple of other places hopefully later today.
 
#18 ·
Sell both. They need an awful lot of work to turn into a user. The fact is that you have not bothered or been tempted to use either.

If you are inclined to use hand planes and want a plough plane, get the Veritas Small Plow. THAT you will want to use. The proceeds of the two planes may pay for it.

Regards from Perth

Derek
 
#19 ·
Well, now that we have heard from someone's sponsor….

I USE the Stanley 45, a LOT….and find it fun to use. The plane I have…took about one day to go from a rust bucket into a user. As long as you are not afraid of getting your hands dirty….

7 planes in one….is what Stanley said. Have used it for 6 out of the 7.

That "Small Plow" is just that…a very small plow plane…not even close to the 45…..let alone the #55….Ask the Veritas Salesman how well the Stanley cutters will work on his little plane…..and the cost of each of his new cutters.

I have seen way too many made by Sargent,,,that were broken….sell the Sargent, keep the Stanley….there happens to be over 100 types of cutters that can be used by the Stanley…..Veritas? Meh…..get a Stanley #50, instead….about the same size….
 
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