I seem to remember from the old WOODonline days...a fellow that would always claim an "Immediate Up Grade" was needed.....every time someone posted about a tool they had bought.....trying to remember who that was...

 

Seemed his "up-grades" usually cost more than the poster paid for the tool....

7 hours ago, steven newman said:

I seem to remember from the old WOODonline days...a fellow that would always claim an "Immediate Up Grade" was needed.....every time someone posted about a tool they had bought.....trying to remember who that was...

Seemed his "up-grades" usually cost more than the poster paid for the tool....

Fortunately for us hand tool guys Steve, upgrades come every 150 or so years, if ever, thank goodness!

I talked to Phyllis about this upgrade business. Her comments were not helpful. 

As many of you may know, lately I have not had the excitement of upgrading tools or shop, considering my reduction in space, and machinery, but my silver lining, was a really neat Shop Smith that took place of all that beautiful machinery I had. And really, I am very happy to be trodding down the road of minimalism. It's a wonderful feeling. And, I do love my Shop Smith, thank you @Gene Howe for setting me on that path.

If you're happy, I'm happy. Well, I'm always happy, anyway. 

On 7/17/2019 at 5:57 AM, John Morris said:

Honestly I don't understand why anyone would deride a man for spending his own money how he see's fit. Are we going to tell a man that he wasted his money buying his 2019 Pickup Truck when after all he should of purchased that 1972 Pickup Truck, because it does the same thing, it'll get you from point A to point B, that man must of purchased that 2019 for bragging rights, since he spent so much money on it.

My neighbor just purchased a 2020 Corvette.  He said it is costing him $210,000.  Naturally, we were all out there drooling over it.  That, right there, is the definition of bragging rights.  Single, with no kids, been working for Boeing for years, I can see how he can afford it.  And I am pondering the wisdom of a $350 plane.  Oh well, such is life.

Just a thought. I know cast planes will crack if dropped or at least may crack. Now what happens to a bronze plane when dropped? Does it warp the sole, break the joints , or just dent?

Don't know the answer but, thats a good reason for a wood floor with rubber mats. 

Well, here is what John said about that earlier in the thread:

On 7/13/2019 at 9:58 AM, John Morris said:

2. Why do you make many of your tools out of Bronze?

Manganese Bronze is a very hard, strong alloy which wears very well, unlike brass and softer bronzes. We prefer this bronze to iron for small planes because it's heavier, it doesn't rust, won't crack if dropped and has wonderful warmth in the hand. We use iron when the extra weight is not welcome.

Source: FAQ's

Hmm...well...I can either spend that $350 on a handplane....or...add $9 to it, and make the payment on my van.....since I can't ride a hand plane, but I can drive the van....

19 minutes ago, steven newman said:

Hmm...well...I can either spend that $350 on a handplane....or...add $9 to it, and make the payment on my van.....since I can't ride a hand plane, but I can drive the van....

Priorities,

When someone says this is the best gaul-durn tool I have ever used. Then someone ask how many other of the same type of tool do you own or have used in making your comparison. Its the only one but.....Joe said it was the best he ever used... Then if you are able to check these guys on things like have they always been a wood worker. Do they just do wood working on weekends and have an office job to make a living...Are they of an older age to have lots of experience with wood working tools. 

  John mentioned a guy who use to recommend high dollar tools and even if it was the very first tool of that type he ever had in his hands he would go ahead and give his opinion but it was much too strong of an opinion...I remember he recommended a Wixley.. Oh it was the cats meow.   But then a couple of years later he happened to drop it and it broke.... and it sounded to me like he thought it should have survived not being very high up and the way it was dropped...Then he started bad mouthing Wixley but his reputation could make anyone let go of more money than lots of guys had and some rightfully voiced their displeasure of being talked in to things they couldn't afford and as they were just trying out at being a woodworker and didn't have the money to invest in that German brand of tools he always talked up....

  In my way of thinking if I load up my tools and drive across Dallas to do a special job and being good at what I do took me many years of experience then yes I might own a Festool or a Leigh or a Forrest brand but I don't own any of those brands. Back when I bought a new cabinet table saw I was in a cheap store one day and this guy was buying some table saw blades and we got to talking and he said you know I really watch what I buy that is real cheap but I bought a blade like this a couple of years ago and hey I am back to buy more of this same thing....Okay since I also needed a new blade to go with my new saw and since it was 6.95 this is not too much to spend to give these blades a try...So to make a long story shorter I came back in about a year later and bought a case of this same blade...… this amount of money equals I Forrest blade. This was almost 20 years ago and I am on the 4th blade and I don't think anyone can tell me from the things I build what brand of blade I am using or how much it cost....I like to buy from a garage sale or auction. I can't afford new expensive tools.. but can repair anything....

  I think leaving a persons purchases up to the individual and let him spend his hard earned or for that matter easy to come by money. This country would be bad off if every one thought and acted alike.

  True story. This guy working for me at the track I noticed had a new set of deer horns installed on his car. I asked if they worked or was a gimmick, He said they work great.  Okay, so how long have you had them on your car... about six months and I ain't hit a deer yet.....How long you been driving, abut 15years.....So you bought them to save having to go to the body shop to fix dented front ends.  that's right....so tell me how many deer have you hit with your car in the 15 years you had your license. I never have hit a deer.....

Edited August 12, 20196 yr by Smallpatch

Good points, Jesse. I like Scotch but, I'm not going to recommend everyone start drinking it. 

Jesse I have recommended tools as I think we have all done in the past . Rarely top dollar for the item but something I have used or own. I agree that price is not always going along with function but in some cases it may be the best for the job, However I do not believe that looking at the high dollar item and saying it must be the best is the ideal route to excellent tools in the shop.

     For all practical purposes Jesse has hit it on the button that even after recommendations we must decide what is best for our toolbox and pocket book.  Oh by the way I do have a few expensive LV planes and some lathe tools also up there but not all of them.

You have to be comfortable with your purchases. All around. Bottom line. 

 

Only you know what you need, and what you can afford. Not directed towards Tom, but directed at the course this topic took. 

 

John, I am with you.  Not collect tools, have the best or most expensive, but what I need today and tomorrow.  I have been working for a couple of years to minimize.  I have a couple of Stanley's planes, but I have never worked one.  I think I set the blade out sufficiently, but I have yet to get a grab.  So, I just grab my ROS and grind it down and check with a sheet rock t square and light.  If my surface is only about 1/32 off, I don't care as 99 percent of folks will never see it.  It's amazing at what I see as imperfection but the customer sees as perfect.  When I was young, I would buy Craftsman because I knew that if I broke it, it would be replaced without cash out of my pocket.  Now that I am older I realize, a tool that will do the job does not need to be top of the line or even the middle.  It just has to get me past the project and still be functional.  

 

Steven brought out an excellent point.  Any metal tool that you have and want to inhibit the rust, get some Johnson's or Minwax paste wax and coat it and buff it out.  You'll be amazed how your tools work and how smoothly they will glide across the wood.  

 

Now that you have had a great discussion on planes, I guess that is the next thing I need to learn about.  Thanks for all the input here.  

Edited August 12, 20196 yr by FlGatorwood

I still occasionally watch "Ask this old house".  I've definitely noticed the inventory of Festool's that Tommy Silva owns. I wonder if the tools are provided by Festool, since they are a sponsor of the program.

20 minutes ago, Al B said:

I still occasionally watch "Ask this old house".  I've definitely noticed the inventory of Festool's that Tommy Silva owns. I wonder if the tools are provided by Festool, since they are a sponsor of the program.

No doubt. 

I couldn't tell anyone one way or the other, my only hand plane is an Stanley.

7 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

I like Scotch but, I'm not going to recommend everyone start drinking it. 

On your recommendation I will have one.