Demand for quality handtools
It's a known fact that these days there are a lot of handtool makers producing outstanding tools, tools that improve on the vintage ones they're based on.
You can no longer say that if you want a good western style chisel you need to get yourself a used Stanley n.750 and restore it to good working condition.
You have manufacturers like Lie-Nielsen that offer a set chisels based on the 750's and through the use of better raw materials and manufacturing techniques produce a tool that's even better that the original.
But how much are some people willing to pay for these tools?
Recently I was watching a few items on eBay and when the auctions ended I was quite impressed! But maybe not for the right reasons.
One Lie-Nielsen 102 (bronze low angle block plane) sold for $100.99. That is over the retail price and well over the $87 that is advertised in the Fine Tools Journal website. I wonder why would anyone pay over retail price for a used tool....
Two other interesting auctions were for vintage Stanley n.750 chisels which sold for $47 and $51 each, quite close to the retail price of a brand new Lie-Nielsen which sells for $50.
Would you rather buy a rusty vintage tool than a brand new one that happens to be even better. Let me know what you think in the comments section....
Another interesting fact is that Wenzloff & Sons are no longer taking orders for custom made saws as of August 4, 2008. According to Mike Wenzloff the waiting list for direct orders is well over 4000 saws.
They may resume taking direct orders in the future once they manage to clear the waiting list and there will be a revision of the prices. As it is right now, a custom made dovetail saw would cost you the same as one sold through Lee Valley and when you order directly from Mike you can specify all the details, from the wood species of the handle to how you'd like the teeth sharpened.
I am on that waiting list since February for two handsaws and it looks like it's getting close to my place on the list. How close? Mike said 2-3 weeks some 3 weeks ago. I guess he's probably shaping the handles on my saws right now.... I'll post some photos when they arrive.
A last note on the subject of quality tools is the recent announcement that Stanley will be offering a line of handplanes that will be able to compete with the likes of Lie-Nielsen and Veritas, although the prices published by The Schwarz on his blog are quite lower that the competition.
Further reading:
You can no longer say that if you want a good western style chisel you need to get yourself a used Stanley n.750 and restore it to good working condition.You have manufacturers like Lie-Nielsen that offer a set chisels based on the 750's and through the use of better raw materials and manufacturing techniques produce a tool that's even better that the original.
But how much are some people willing to pay for these tools?
Recently I was watching a few items on eBay and when the auctions ended I was quite impressed! But maybe not for the right reasons.
One Lie-Nielsen 102 (bronze low angle block plane) sold for $100.99. That is over the retail price and well over the $87 that is advertised in the Fine Tools Journal website. I wonder why would anyone pay over retail price for a used tool....
Two other interesting auctions were for vintage Stanley n.750 chisels which sold for $47 and $51 each, quite close to the retail price of a brand new Lie-Nielsen which sells for $50.
Would you rather buy a rusty vintage tool than a brand new one that happens to be even better. Let me know what you think in the comments section....
Another interesting fact is that Wenzloff & Sons are no longer taking orders for custom made saws as of August 4, 2008. According to Mike Wenzloff the waiting list for direct orders is well over 4000 saws.They may resume taking direct orders in the future once they manage to clear the waiting list and there will be a revision of the prices. As it is right now, a custom made dovetail saw would cost you the same as one sold through Lee Valley and when you order directly from Mike you can specify all the details, from the wood species of the handle to how you'd like the teeth sharpened.
I am on that waiting list since February for two handsaws and it looks like it's getting close to my place on the list. How close? Mike said 2-3 weeks some 3 weeks ago. I guess he's probably shaping the handles on my saws right now.... I'll post some photos when they arrive.
A last note on the subject of quality tools is the recent announcement that Stanley will be offering a line of handplanes that will be able to compete with the likes of Lie-Nielsen and Veritas, although the prices published by The Schwarz on his blog are quite lower that the competition.
Further reading:
- Lie-Nielsen Chisels: Better Than Vintage - by The Schwarz
- Premium Dovetail Saws - by The Schwarz
- Wenzloff & Sons - Custom Made Saws
Labels: tools
3 Comments:
Hi Luis: I guess I'm one of those hybrid types. I have some old tools and some new. If I run across a great old tool, like my 1907 Stanley Bailey #5, I grab it. But I'm not actively searching for these. Maybe I should be more diligent, but when time is short, usually it is much easier to buy a new Lie-Nielsen or other well-made modern tool. Keith (woodtreks.com)
As the resident cheapskate on the woodworking blogosphere, my comments may be in the minority.
I'll most likely never buy a Lie-Nielsen plane, a Wenzloff (or other contemporary handmade) saw or a new Japanese chisel. Yes, I know the quality is sometimes better than a vintage tool. Yes, it's awful purty.
But at this point in my life, I'm still trying to build up my set of tools. My budget for tools comes in $10 increments, not $100 increments. If a $10 Irwin chisel does just about as good as a $60 Japanese one (granted, with more frequent sharpenings), I'll go for it. If a $20 vintage handplane does just about as good as a $320 one, I'll go for it. And if a $30 Japanese ryoba does just about as good as a $300 handmade Western saw, I'll go for it.
Of course, on that last point, it's a non-issue for me. If someone gave me a Wenzloff saw for Christmas, it would likely sit neglected on the shelf while I go time and time again for my $30 ryoba.
It's true that sometimes you can find some vintage tools in great condition for a bargain. When that happens I'll grab them and put them to use.
What doesn't make much sense to me is buing a vintage tool for the same price of a modern one that happens to be as good if not better.
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