Thread: Hand planes - why so dear ?

Which types / brands are you refering to?

Usually bench/block planes are cheap as, especially second hand.

Unless you are talking about something like the Bridge City Tools CT-17

Originally Posted by Ozziespur

They are simple in their design why are they so bloody expensive ??

They say the first one is free.....and then you pay for the rest of your life.

There are some really cheap new hand-planes out there, just as there are some really cheap electric planes.
Not that I'd buy either......

Anyway, time is money, as they say. Even though a quality hand-plane might look simple, I'll bet it takes a lot more "person-hours" at the factory to machine and finish properly than a decent electric plane does.

Then, of course, there are the 'Holtey Classic Handplanes'. They take 'not cheap' to a whole new level. I couldn't resist asking the price on his No. 982 smoother, and was quoted 6800.00 UK pounds, plus delivery. And if you look at his website, it is not difficult to find justification for what he asks. Unfortunately I can't find sufficient justification to buy one. (Real reason - I would be beaten to death with it by the Keeper of the Privy Purse).

I was just having a general captain cook at Bunnings (as one does) & saw a Stanley no 5 plane for something like $120.00 ! I suppose that's cheap based on other brands. It just struck (a novice woodworker) as extraordinarily expensive for such a (seemingly) simple piece of equipment.

Well look at it this way. You got the Manufacturer, Importer/Wholesaler, Retailer trying to make a profit and on top of that you got tax and freight. So you can see how costs add up by the time the product reaches the consumer.

"Stanley no 5 plane for something like $120.00 ! I suppose that's cheap"

That is cheap whatever way you look at it. It has to be designed, raw materials gathered, furnaces to heat, grinders to finish, packaging, distribution and marketing. Huge costs along the line to end product. With a change of blade if necessary and minor tinkering it works as well as any depending on the skill of the user. You don't need fancy or expensive tools to work timber but they are nice to have and hold and look at.

Col.

As my Dad said "a good quality plane will last you a lifetime".

I guess I have short arms & long pockets.

Originally Posted by Ozziespur

I was just having a general captain cook at Bunnings (as one does) & saw a Stanley no 5 plane for something like $120.00 ! I suppose that's cheap based on other brands. It just struck (a novice woodworker) as extraordinarily expensive for such a (seemingly) simple piece of equipment.

Not that I'd go anywhere near a new Stanley (see here), when you think that anyone who buys a plane would likely get one #5 in their lifetime and the plane is likely to outlive then and find a new home, the initial cost has to be quite high for them to get any sort of return.

If you average the price out over 50 years they are only really getting $2.50 a year out of you for a product. I have gradually been coming to understand that tools have to be thought of this way, otherwise I don't think I'd ever buy any!

I only have 5 or 6 planes and I have only purchased one of those brand new and that was from Aldis, the rest have been bought from markets second hand. Great bargains to be had if you find a used one for sale.

Here are some hand planes - better than those found in the local hardware stores and much much cheaper:

STANLEY BAILEY HAND PLANE NO. 4 | eBay
Buy it Now - $40

STANLEY BAILEY HAND PLANE NO. 4 | eBay
Buy it Now $40

STANLEY BAILEY ENGLAND NO.6 WOOD PLANE OLD VINTAGE CARPENTER TOOL BLOCK/SMOOTHER | eBay
Buy it now $69.99

These are only what is currently available.
Next week there will be more, and more the week after.

I often think about people who have a smoking habit. Say a pack a day - what's that - around $100 a week? $5,200 per year!

You can buy a lot of hand tools with $5200 a year.

How about a pub visit every afternoon after work - 3 schooners - $20 - what's that - around $100 a week? $5,200 per year?

What if you do both? - $10,400 per year.

What about a cappuccino every morning on the way to work - $20 per week or $1040 per year

What if you do all three?
$11,440 per year.

$114,400 per decade

And so on and so on ..........

When I look at the examples of the planes that I listed above, and I think about the work that went into their production, I have to ask myself - why so cheap?

At the end of the decade your $40 handplane, or your $200 handplane or even your $1,000 handplane will be still going strong.
What you will have to show for all those cigarettes, or schooners or coffees will be ............................. yep - zilch!

It is a simple matter of what are you looking for and what is it worth to you, I guess.

Cheers
SG

It could also be the number being sold (in this country at least). More people if they need a tool may buy a powered version.
Wish I had my hand plane on a job last week as my electric plane was too big, awkward to do a small trim job.

I don't know if the same still applies but in the days of yore, the new castings were considered 'Green' and allowed to sit and rest for up to a year before they were brought into the workshop and finished into planes. This was to let any stresses out of the casting.

Much like seasoning wood for wooden planes I guess.

I'm no metallurgist but I'm sure they did not do things like that just because they used to do it with wood.

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

It is a simple matter of what are you looking for and what is it worth to you, I guess.
Cheers
SG

Well said SG