I'm on the hunt for a handplane, preferably a No. 5, and I've come across a used Stanley Defiance model being sold for $50 (including $10 shipping). I've read that Defiance tools tend to be cheaper and not quite on par with the standard Stanley tools, but this one looks to be in really good shape. Considering it's a Stanley, I feel like it could still be decent quality. Do you think it's worth the price, or should I hold out for a different option?
2 Answers
Have you checked places like Craigslist or local marketplace sites? Old hand tools pop up all the time where I live and they're often really affordable. Sure, they might need a little sprucing up, but it beats paying extra on eBay!
You might want to look into Wards Master planes too! They were actually made by Stanley for Montgomery Wards and are pretty much the same as the Stanleys. Best part? They usually go for less because they don't carry the Stanley name. It could give you more bang for your buck!
I haven't looked in a while, but when I did, my options were pretty slim since I live in a rural area. I guess I could widen the search, but I’d rather not drive too far when I could just have something shipped.