Tommy MacDonald's 207 Woodworking Community • View topic

Chip Monk · **Posted:** Sun Dec 12, 10 4:59 pm

Hi guys---

Anybody have a second-hand low angle block plane in decent shape? I'd like to get one for our monastery shop ... but all the new ones are way too expensive for us. And I've seen enough reviews of the Stanley $40 version to avoid it.

Any suggestions, ideas or wheeler-dealers out there??

Thanks.

tiny · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 10 2:28 am

Find an old second hand plane of some sort that's seen better days but has a decent blade the width you want. Refurbish the blade and build the rest of the plane out of wood.

Paul
the little fellow

rwyoung · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 10 2:54 pm

Chip Monk wrote:

Hi guys---

Anybody have a second-hand low angle block plane in decent shape? I'd like to get one for our monastery shop ... but all the new ones are way too expensive for us. And I've seen enough reviews of the Stanley $40 version to avoid it.

Any suggestions, ideas or wheeler-dealers out there??

Thanks.

The Stanley 60-1/2 Sweetheart and #62 have gone through at least two revisions since first released. The latest castings and finish machining quality are right up there. I picked up a 3rd generation 60-1/2 for just over $40 delivered through Amazon.com. Required a new VISA card to get the $75 down to $35 ($40 "signing bonus" from Amazon), free shipping but sales tax. Better deal on that VISA than my old one so I was OK with the switch.

Granted $75 may not be the price range you are looking for but for new, it is pretty hard to beat.

As to the $40 version (contractor grade is even less), they are OK but can require considerable tuning and the blade that comes with is thin and prone to chatter.

Other than honing the blade mu new 60-1/2 has been just fine. Dead flat and well finished. See also Chris Schwarz's blog for updates on the #62.

My review of 60-1/2 is here:
http://kcwoodworkersguild.org/Education ... t%2060.pdf

rwyoung · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 10 2:58 pm

p.s. link into Amazon.com that I started with:

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-12-139-Ba ... 147&sr=8-1

Note that it is still listed as $75 (MSRP is $99.99)

p.p.s.
Contact Rob Lee at Lee Valley and explain your situation. Perhaps they will work you a good deal on a model of the LV low angle plane. Occasionally they have scratch-and-dent models that while functionally perfect have a cosmetic flaw that prevents them from selling as new.

Likewise Deneb at Lie-Nielsen for the same reason.

I don't know a contact name at Stanley but perhaps you can contact Chris Schwarz at Popular Woodworking and he could then make a suggestion for somebody to contact at Stanley.

Chip Monk · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 10 9:51 am

Thanks for all the tips, RW!

Count on our prayers!

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