13 Replies

Found this one too.

Personally, I’d be far more inclined to pay $10 for the first one than much of anything for the second. From what I know, the handyman series was a low end offering from Stanley and not very good especially next to a Bailey.

Make sure there are no cracks in the body and look to see how deep the rust is. You want to check for flatness, but you’re gonna do some work on the sole anyway so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I’ve salvaged several older planes and love them.

Bailey si, Handyman no.

Thanks guys. I sent a message to see if it’s still available. In the mean time, is there any way to tell how old a Stanley plane is? I have read a lot about pre-WWII planes being the best, why is that, and how would I know?

Here is a really good place to start: http://www.hyperkitten.com/

The earlier Stanleys used a higher grade of steel for the bodies. Some even say the blade material was a better grade.

I avoid anything in the “Handyman” series, ones with blue paint instead of black, and ones made in England. In my experience they are a lesser quality than the true Stanley Bailey. I have a couple of #4s (both from the 1940’s) and a #3 (from the 1930’s) that I use on a regular basis.

Just be careful, buying and restoring old tools can be highly addictive. I hear there are a couple of 12 step programs for that, but I don’t have a problem so I don’t know (seriously, I don’t have a problem, I can stop buying them anytime I want. Really, I can…….)

Thanks for the link Bill. I haven’t heard back from the seller, so I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. The info on that site will come in handy though. I’m hitting a couple of flea markets over the weekend. Maybe I’ll get lucky.

I agree on all points. Handyman planes are one of the few lines I avoid all together.

I didn’t find anything at the flea market, but I did get a text from the seller yesterday. Looks like I’ll be coming home with a Bailey #4 if it isn’t in too bad shape.

I just picked up the Bailey. No cracks anywhere, but does have surface rust. The rust doesn’t appear to be overly deep, and there is no pitting. The plane appears to be complete and there are only two very small nicks in the blade. According to hyperkitten, it is definitely a Type 15. I can’t wait to get this thing home Saturday and cleaned up.

Congrats!!!! Take a look at www.paulsellers.com . He has some good videos on sharpening.

we’ll be watching for the before and after photos.

Thanks Bill. I’m stuck in Florida for the week, but when I get home I’ll get some better pictures of it during disassembly. I’ll also check out the paulsellers site.

Monty, get a Rubbermaid tub and a gallon of Evaporust from Advance Auto Parts. This stuff must be a secret, but I was told about it and now I use it for everything. For tool cleanup, the rust will just fall off. It’s expensive but it’s worth the work that it does. Try it and you will be amazed. Rick from Rick’s Restorations on Cable in NV, he endorses it.