new handplanes

[thedeeredude]

Has anyone had the chance to try the new handplanes from Anant known as the kamal series?  Highland hardware has them ont heir website.  Im probably gonna buy one next paycheck, so Ill give a review, but was just wandering if anyone tried them yet.

[Dave Shepard]

I don't have much experience with them. I used one last fall, and I recall it felt like a post war Stanley. I use old Stanley Baileys, and have gotten into the old wooden planes too, they can be had cheap. I would be interested in hearing about the new Anants though, I know they are cheaper than those gold-plated Lie-nielsons(which are awesome, just a lot of money). What are you going to plane? I thought I was the only one still promoting hand tools. ;)


Dave

[LeeB]

Not so. I very much like my hand tools. I like my power tools too. I generaly use both on every project I do.

I have no experiance with the Anant planes. Old Stanleys and Records can be had pretty cheap. Just inspct them carefully. They sometimes need a little tweeking and cleanup, then you have a fist rate tool for little of noyhing.

[thedeeredude]

I wanna switch my shop over to handtools.  I wont be making a ton of stuff and just dont need many power tools.  I tried hand planing before but it was with those forsaken transitional stanleys.  Not an easy task.  Now I want to get a jack plane, a scraper like a stanley 80 and some handsaws.  I can make small boxes and that kind of thing then.  I love hand tools, I just aint too good at using them yet.  I am also considering making a jack plane out of some hard maple or birch.  I dont know what I want to do yet.  I am trying to become a demonstrator at a local homestead and if I can do that, Ill make a wooden plane instead.

[low_48]

I am not very impressed with the Anant. I only held one, it was not tuned up and I did not have a chance to use it. I thought the iron was "cheap" and needed a complete grinding front and back to make it flat and sharp. The backlash in the adjustment mechanism was way too much.
If you don't want to shop for used, I would recommend the Veritas planes from Lee Valley. They are VERY well made and a pleasure to use.
I prefer the oldies myself. Set about collecting all the bench planes quite a few years ago. I'm proud to say that I have the complete collection of bench planes, smooth and corrugated soles, from the #1 through #8. The #1 was a "lucky" buy at $600. : But they go for around $1000 on Ebay now.

Good luck.

[Dodgy Loner]

I've seen a #1 go for $4000 on eBay, but it was practically unused and still in the box.  Frankly, I think you've got to have a couple loose marbles upstairs to pay that kind of money for any hand plane.

[Larry]

Deals are still out there...I snagged a #8 with a corrugated base for $2 at a consignment auction few weeks ago.  The tote and knob are perfect...haven't cleaned it up enough to see the rest of it, but sure looks clean.

[LeeB]

Wanna triple your money? :D :D :D :D That was a steal for just about any condition. You could always use it for parts if nothing else.

[Max sawdust]

I've seen a #1 go for $4000 on eBay, but it was practically unused and still in the box.  Frankly, I think you've got to have a couple loose marbles upstairs to pay that kind of money for any hand plane.

Ya that is high on a #1.   ;D  Someone really wanted it, bet it brings $6k in a few years ;)
I sort of "collect" 1929-1931 Stanley's, I have paid several hundered for a "good one".  But if you are not collecting, you will not care if the frog or lever cap are exactly original or not.

I recomend buying pre-1960 Stanleys, or go with Veritas or Lei-Nelson.  Avant in my opinion is like new Stanley's works OK after hours of tuning.
Max

[Dave Shepard]

Sometimes you get lucky. Last summer I snagged an 1887-88 No10 Stanley with the reverse thread chipbreaker for $50, from an antiques dealer. I no more than paid him and he looked it up in his book. He told me I got a good deal, but wouldn't say how good. ;) ;D


Dave

[Dodgy Loner]

Well that sounds like a dandy, but I don't know anything about old Stanley planes except how to tune 'em up and make boards flat.  ;)