Thread: Bailey Stanley - Are they any good?

Dyno, it is generally accepted that pre WW II Stanley Bailey planes are better made than the later ones. A serious decline in quality after approx 1950. So, to obtain these pre WW II versions, go to here to learn about the various types and what they do and then to garage sales and markets were you touch and feel the planes to make sure you are getting what is describes. Fleabay is hit and miss, relying on the photo (normally of dubious quality) and minimal description.

As with the chisels, for dovetails I use Stubai, but you can pick up old Titans etc at markets for alot less than what I paid and what Bunnies want.

Welcome to the forum. You will find more information here than you could ever wish for.

The new bailey planes are ok, but the old ones are much much better. See hans brunner tools for some idea as to prices, but you will see here you will pick up an old stanley 5 for the same price (or less) as a new one.

http://www.hansbrunnertools.gil.com.au/

HNT Gordon & Veritas are excellent planes. I didn't have that kind of money when starting out, and am glad I learned the basics on cheaper tools before investing heavily in expensive hand tools.

Not sure if I would buy a block plane to start with. I started with a no 4 which can be used for most things. Interestingly enough, the stanley website quotes the following description for the block plane:

Small professional fine grey iron
Fully adjustable for depth of cut, cutter alignment and mouth opening
For end grain and general purpose fine finishing work
Comes with pouch for convenient storage
400mm blade width

I know it's a typo, but I would like to see the plane with a 400mm blade width.

I have a set of the stanley chisels (a few models before fatmax), and they are ok, but I would not buy them again. I think you can get better for the money. I would take a trip to the market and get some 2nd hand ones (should be able to get them for $5-$15 each), buy a honing guide and a stone or two and learn how to sharpen them. I borrowed some old ward & titan chisels from my father and they left the stanleys for dead.

I'm sure a few other people have ideas as well, but that's my two bits worth.

Regards,

Tom

Hi Tom and welcome to the site,
As the others said Stanley is ok but the old stanley is better. You may have a bit of work restoring them but it is worth it. It will take a while to build up a collection of tools and you need to be constantly on the lookout for good old ones. You will have to learn to sharpen tools as you just can't woodwork otherwise. When you can sharpen then the world of old tools is open to you.
Read up all you can on tools and how to maintain them. If you need a plane right away then a Stanley or Record No5 will get you started. Carbatec have a Groz No5 for $75 or a Veritas 5 1/4 for $395. Depends what you can afford.

Regards
John

Hi, and welcome to the forum.
There is plenty of advice here on both planes and chisels.
You could try a search of the forum and it will yield a bewildering set of responses. Worth the effort though.
Here is a good starter set of chisels from Hans Brunner that will cost you about $16 each.
That shouldn't break the bank, and if you ever want a higher quality set, then these could easily become your knockabout set for the construction side of things.
This set is cheaper and you get an extra sized chisel to boot.
Happy hunting
SG

Gidday there,

The advice above will keep you in good stead.

If you're plane hunting and don't want to break the bank just yet (don't worry, you will soon enough anyway - the obsession starts to take over pretty quickly) then an old stanley bailey will do you well.

I suspect even the new ones aren't that bad.

With most of the "stanley type" planes, it'll be a matter of how much tuning they require before they work to full potential. There is a lot of good advice on the web about that process, so I won't repeat it all here.

I have a number of stanley bailey planes, a record and just recently got a Veritas low angle block plane. THe Veritas worked great straight out of the box, and the stanleys all required varying degrees of twiddling before I could use them effectively.

I'd say try find an old number 4 stanley on Ebay and tune it up - it's good to get the practice done on a cheaper plane before going in to the more expensive stuff, and the #4's are a dime a dozen these days.

Best of luck.

C

Guys,

Thanks for the advice and pointers. I really appreciate it. For a newbie, tool collection can be overwhelming.

I definitely see the benefits of having good reliable tools but just not so sure when the law of diminishing returns will kick in for me. Kinda like owning a Porsche but driving in the CBD traffic.

I am planning to get a jig to help with sharpening chisels and planes, looking at the Veritas guide. Not sure if I will ever own their planes though. Kinda want to buy Ozi made as much as I affordably can.

Just dropped Hans an email asking him about some of this chisels and planes. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Have you guys ever make tongue and groove joints using handtools? Or am I insane in this day and age?

I will try the local Sunday market tomorrow to try my luck

Cheers

GUNN

"The key to a happy life is in living authentically with people that you love. Beyond that, everything else is gravy."

...another option is to invest in a fully fettled old stanley plane for a similar price to what you quoted......just to be able to start with the right feel when you start planing....smooth, nearly effortless, wonderful finish......

There would probably be some forum members who could help out with that, or perhaps Jim Davey - [email protected]

Cheers

Hafgan

did this about 7 hours ago and forgot to post it... hope it still helps -

Try here for decent older planes http://www.hansbrunnertools.gil.com.au/
Hans keeps me happy when I can't be bothered with epay.

Click on User Tools on the homepage and then Bench Planes and Block Planes.

Prices (from Hans) for a No 5 Stanley range from $90 to $140.

A no 5 is a general size plane, I'd suggest that you take a look at the No4 and 4 1/2 for smoothing... from $90 at the moment. Later on get a No7 as well.

Block Planes Stanley 60 or 60 1/2 go for around $90, you'll find a 9 1/2 adjustable for the same price. Both are good.

The trouble with the new Stanleys are that the quality is not up to speed. New Stanley Baileys are not worth their salt IMO, to answer your question.

Better to get a second hand older one, or look at the Veritas here, Low Angle Block Plane is US$129 and a No4 or No5 is significantly dearer than the Stanley's (US$210 - 230). Or look for the the LN's, dearer again (low angle block plane US$150). Aussie prices are about $100 dearer... ordering from Lee Valley (Veritas) direct is still a good option after postage.

Veritas, Lie-Nielsen and HNT Gordon are more expensive as the quality is top-rate.
The differance between Veritas and LN is that Veritas is innovative and LN seems more traditional...both are very well made.

Although you will pay extra, AU$90 versus US$130 - 150 (to use the block as an example) this will save you some frustration and allow you to open the box, sharpen the blade and then get working with a very, very well made tool.

Chisels - for my $ I'd just get cheap ones from Bunnings or where ever. Later on you might start picking up old second hand ones or new dearer ones.
My 2 cents worth is that although I have a real mixed bag of chisels, they are really just bits of metal to 'bang into timber'. Sacrilegous words for some, but to me a 'good chisel and a cheap chisel are pretty much the same, I can't really tell the difference.

If what you want to do is make tongue and groove by hand, then you should go for it. You'll find there are plenty of matched pairs of old wooden T&G planes around - just check they really are a pair! Hans Brunner often has those too.

As to why you would make T&G by hand... When you can get new T&G, or recycled, for much less and no effort?

Because one day it might be useful. Because otherwise no one will remember how to do it. Because you can.

You'll find plenty of people on these forums who do things the old fashioned way for many reasons. I dislike the noise of power tools, and I'm not usually in a hurry, so why not do it quietly, so I can listen to the rest of the world rushing around outside. If you want to find others who share your enthusiasm, try searching these forums for "darkside" and see what comes up!

I started out having a no.5 stanley plane from Bunnings, then replaced it with a aftermarket blade, which improved it significantly! However if i was to start out again i would buy a antique pre ww2 plane from ebay. They are alot cheaper and higher quality then the modern ones, the only downside is that they need some tuning and restoring, but I'll still get them. For chisels I started out with some old stanley that I took from school and a few Irwin I bought. Other than needing frequent sharpening they work great when sharpened! Hope this helps