Why Are Good Planes So Expensive?

On the weekend I got talking with my Son In Law about wood working planes. He wanted to know what my planes were worth.

I have about 6 that actually work, about 6 that are awaiting repair or restoration and a hand full of various specialty or "historic" planes kicking around the shop. The conversation developed on the basis that he knows and understands what the correct tool can do for you and the handicaps the wrong/poor tool can impose. What he doesn't know much about is wood working planes.

Incidentally, that is a great place to start a conversation. Sham came to the discussion without prejudice or preconceived motion.

So... what are my planes worth. All together less than $1,500 CDN. Then we looked on the net at the Lee Valley, Lie Nielson, Clifton sites etc.

Why are those planes so expensive, and are they worth the money??

Many of my planes are Anant planes from India. I was the Canadian importer for a couple of years. They are good planes, not always consistent but very inexpensive.

The plane castings have a very high iron content. They rust easily, very easily. Better quality planes have medal that resist rust better. The Anant castings are brittle so if they are dropped they can crack apart. Better quality planes are made from castings that are not as brittle.

Both of those issues can be dealt with fairly easily. If you know they are there. I found out about the rust issue the hard way. The dropping part is covered by soft floor mats by my bench.

What else do you get with a Lee Valley plane that you don't get with an Anant. Thicker plane blade, less chatter, definitely something that is noticeable.

Is the Lee Valley plane 5 times better than the Anant? A good Lee Valley, Lie Nielson etc will last your entire life with proper care. The Anant probably will not last a life time. At some point it will get put away damp, or get dropped some place away from the protective flooring so now you are looking at having to buy two instead of one over the course of your working career.

Recently I bought Rob Cosman's new DVD "The Great Hand Plane Revival" He addresses the question of what a plane needs to do and tries to deal with the question of value.

Stay posted and I will let you know what Rob thinks.

cheers

The Mighty TEN

I have to begin this post by saying. "this is not my idea" I read this someplace sometime ago and tried it and it worked. Actually it worked great. I was just too lazy to keep doing it. But yesterday I remembered and re-discovered this great idea.

Every time, (every every time) you walk into your shop put away 10 things. This is important to me because I am the sort of guy that finishes a project and then walks away for a breath of fresh air, leaving tools and chaos behind me.

Further I make the excuse that I work at my other job from home and so am often interrupted by the phone or fax during my work shop time. Each interruption means down tools and time spent at my desk. Down tools is not put away tools, just down.

So....it means that often times I come to the wood shop and have to begin by ending the previous job.

When I follow the Rule Of Ten the problem is lessened considerably. Each time I wonder past or though the shop, to let the cat in/out, or water plants your just look up something I put away ten things. I count these things, a drill bit is one thing. The router and table is one thing, etc. Very quickly there are not ten things to put away and.....when I go down stairs after breakfast and emails the shop is ready to work.

I wish I could remember where I read the idea. It is great for the part time working in the basement and trying to juggle all the balls that life seems to throw my way.

cheers,

Little Wooden Cars

These little cars are designed to be played with and not worried about. I am selling them at Textures for $6.00 each. I hope a kid will play with them and his parents won't get crazy if the cars are left in the sand box in the rain or chewed by the dog.
The last time I saw wood cars they were from off shore and twice the price. Toys are for playing.

Black Horse with White Stripes?? or...

The Zebra is an interesting project based on a very old rocking horse I had as a kid. I can't even guess how many miles my brother and I rocked the original. Now the new goes on sale at Textures next week.

Not Woodworking, but a good Thought.

At this moment I am very busy in the shop with toys and restoring some very old toys.
But....the other thing I am doing is the annual paperwork for taxes.
As I dug around in the various folders I came across a small spiral bound book called "Knox Notes of Faith Wisdom and Wit. It was collected by a neighbour from my old house and he shared the book with me.
March 3rd.
"Pray that God's light will shine in the lives of all people, bringing hope and peace to our troubled world" amen.