So much for so little

[G S Haydon]

Is it just the time of year or are vintage hand tools at a very affordable level on ebay?

The versatile #4 is still dirt cheap, plenty of choice around £20.00. Chisels, even longer planes seem relatively good value. It seems even with an upturn in interest over the past few years it's still as easy as it ever was to pick up great value stuff.

Not so good if you're selling......

 

[MIGNAL]

Yes, some very good bargains to be had:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Marpl ... 1ea5e92ba1:

 

[Wildman]

Some very good bargains to be had:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Marpl ... 1ea5e92ba1:

not much of that left, hee hee

 

[MIGNAL]

That's what they call paying for a name. Well, 3/4 's of one.

 

[G S Haydon]

Plenty of life in that one!

 

[tomasg]

Still haven't found what im lookin for ...
Subconsciously missing the gentle sound of lapping with a worn in 1800 diamond stone
Cant wait for more torture :roll:

 

[n0legs]

Very true Graham. There are some brilliant tools about, especially for the beginner.
Pay a little, enjoy a lot, learn loads.

 

[Mike.S]

Is it just the time of year or are vintage hand tools at a very affordable level on ebay?

It seems even with an upturn in interest over the past few years it's still as easy as it ever was to pick up great value stuff.

Not so good if you're selling......

You're right. Over the past few weeks I've recently sold dozens of Addis/Herring carving chisels, woodturning gouges etc on ebay and prices were a bit below what they 'should have been'. Better items e.g. Preston shoulder plane and less common items e.g. a Marples riffler, attracted good bidding, but I'd rather be a buyer than a seller. People tightening their belts?

 

[G S Haydon]

Could be Mike, Christmas on the way I suppose. We needed a new stove at home so it was a great reason to have a good clear out. A bit shocking how much I've hoarded......

 

[Dovetaildave]

Plenty of life in that one!

"It measures 17cm in length."........

 

[D_W]

There's belt tightening on this side of the water, too. If you have stuff that's standard and you can demonstrate that it workd, it still sells fine. Anything out of the ordinary just sits in a listing, though.

 

[Mike.S]

Here was my version of MIGNALs chisel - ebay listing. I was going to chuck them but thought to give it a try. They sold.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Yes, some very good bargains to be had:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Marpl ... 1ea5e92ba1:

Well, they used to advertise Marples chisels as 'Good to the last inch'.....

I reckon the trick of buying on Ebay is to avoid anything Paul Sellers has recommended in the last few months. Bad news if you happen to need a router plane!

 

[Paddy Roxburgh]

I reckon the trick of buying on Ebay is to avoid anything Paul Sellers has recommended in the last few months. Bad news if you happen to need a router plane!

Too true. I'm after a second one and can't believe the price their fetching. I'm starting to think that a new Lie nielsen or Veritas for £107 is the best bet and I've never bought a new "premium" tool before in my life

 

[G S Haydon]

Plenty of life in that one!

"It measures 17cm in length."........

Now that's showing off

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Plenty of life in that one!

"It measures 17cm in length."........

Now that's showing off

Well, everybody exaggerates. Allegedly.... :lol:

 

[AJB Temple]

I agree, I have bought up a few job lots as I am sitting out my workshop economically, some of which are ludicrously cheap.

For example:

12 chisels, including four big heavy duty ones that that I wanted for timber framing work £15 inc postage.
Stanley bevel chisel classic pattern, £8
Stanley Bailey No 7 plane for £25 plus post of £6 - not a mark on it and rosewood handles. Boxed.
Stanley hand drill £4 plus post
Clifton rebate plane for £77 (good value, included box and spare blade, but seller was a right pain to deal with)
Startrite dust extractor £100
Excellent workbench 1.8 metres long and three drawers £75 (to use as a drill press stand)
No 5 plane Stanley, refurbed and immaculate £40 I think
2 thick pine chests of filing drawers for tool storage and putting machines on top, plus a thick pine bookcase all made in Denmark from solid timber £20 the lot
Fully refurbished FOBCO Star, totally immaculate £200 (but I had to drive to Salisbury to get it)
Engineers toolmakers chest - solid oak, brass handles and interior fittings £70

I have also passed on about 40 or 50 things. It is amazing what some people will pay. There is a Rider bullnose plane on there right now that is more on eBay than Axminster sell it for. Likewise a LN plane. Crazy.

 

[JohnPW]

Low prices for old "junk" that most people would just throw out in the rubbish or even pay people to take them away (house clearance)? That's how it should be!

It seems to me most people selling old tools but who are not dealers have acquired them for nothing. My guess the most common is through a deceased relative. Next would be someone moving into a new house and finding stuff left behind in the shed

EDIT: just in case there's any misunderstanding, I'm not replying to the previous post but just making some general comments on this thread's topic.

 

[MIGNAL]

At least it's getting recycled. Has to be better than landfill. Which brings me to another 'interesting' :roll: question. Are there enough old Chisels, Planes, Saws to serve all our needs, without having to buy modern rubbish :wink: ?

 

[AndyT]

At least it's getting recycled. Has to be better than landfill. Which brings me to another 'interesting' :roll: question. Are there enough old Chisels, Planes, Saws to serve all our needs, without having to buy modern rubbish :wink: ?

Yes.

Clearly there are different rules for tools that were specialised and expensive when they were new, but for the sort of tools listed in AJB Temple's post, there were plenty of keen home users, as well as the tradesmen, so the supply is plentiful.

Also, there are enough elderly hoarders whose mission in life is to save this stuff - their stashes will come back on the market soon enough, and the cycle will repeat.