Official Luthiers Forum!

After reading the recent thread and searching through the archive about block plane, I decided to look for a low angle block plane. I've seen this Stanley #60 1/2 on the ebay but don't know much of what a good plane should look like. Therefore, I need you guys advice if I should take the plunge in bidding.

I realize that pictures don't tell much but at least if there is no any obvious defect that can be seen. I'm willing to put my bid on.

Thanks
     

It's really hard to tell about one of the ebay planes.  I bought several a while back.  They all needed a lot of work to get them working right, and one has never made it at all.  Probably my fault for quitting on it.  Every one of them, though had to be lapped and set up right, blades sharpened or replaced, chip breakers cleaned up, frogs, sanded & honed flat, etc.  All in all I got a couple of good planes out of the process.

_________________
Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

One common problem with the 60 1/2 planes is that the sole can be cracked at the edges of the mouth- and the one in your ebay pictures seems OK in that regard.
The shipping costs are reasonable as well-not always the case for shipping outside the US.
I wouldn't pay more than $20 ($40+ with shipping) or so for one of these- when you can get a new LN or Veritas apron plane for $75(plus shipping) or so it doesn't make much sense for me to put too much effort (or money for a new blade) into a Stanley block plane, unless there's something special (older,or sentimental value) about it.

Cheers
John

Waddy and John, Thanks for your advice.

I have a few. The stanley one is OK. Needs the blade sharpened
considerably, and the sole lapped. I have a couple Lie Nielsen low angle
block planes too. the 102 Bronze one and the adjustable mouth one as well.
Both are great. The bronze one (my favorite) is like $100 or so. And the
adjustable mouth one (which is tres cool, but I like the bronze one) is like
$125-$150ish.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com