Early Access Video: The History of Stanley Planes
Added 2023-12-22 17:30:01 +0000 UTCFriends:
Well, it's taken a bit longer than expected, but we're finally done with the last video of the year!
Our final video is a complete history of Stanley handplanes (in about 15 minutes). Many people go to eBay to look for planes and get discouraged when they see vintage planes for $200 or more!!
Of course, these super-expensive planes are highly collectible antiques (or overpriced trash from ignorant sellers). Either way, great deals are still out there, but you're only going to get them with the right information.
In this video, we've broken down the full history of Stanley handplanes into digestible little chunks that anyone can understand. We cover all the major innovations and the things that make a plane valuable. More importantly, I talk about all the hidden deals you can find on great planes that aren't collectible.
We also made a FREE PDF chart that shows Stanley's history in a simple timeline. (I've attached it to this post for your convenience.)
Finally, we're releasing our newest course: Restoring the Vintage Metal Handplane. It's a three-hour deep-dive into plane restoration. I take a barn-fresh Stanley handplane and go through every step of cleaning and restoring it until it takes perfect shavings. The course is packed with every trick I've learned from 15 years of tool restoration and it has tips that have never appeared in any video. It's the best course we've ever made and we're really proud of it.
As a special offer to Patrons, you can get the course for HALF OFF with the discount code "SW50." That an exclusive deal and no one else gets it.
And let me close by thanking every one of you for your help and support this year. You know my family has had many challenges and it's been tough, but it would have been much tougher without all of you and the amazing community you've built. We're already planning next year and I can promise you that we'll have new projects, fascinating history, and better filmmaking than you've ever seen on this channel.
You deserve it.
Happy Holidays from all of us!
--Rex
Comments
Loved this, Rex - trying to wean myself off my "all power tools, make a cloud of dust" woodworking style. Bought a type 19 Stanley off ebay last night and looking forward to the course!
Christopher Moore
2024-02-06 16:09:43 +0000 UTCHi Rex… I just watched you hand plane restoration class. It will be helpful to many beginners who want to do a quick clean up and tune on an old Stanley. I found the most helpful part for me was the set up and tuning and troubleshooting chapters! Please consider making a corse on wooden planes
The Super-wrench Garage
2024-01-20 14:37:22 +0000 UTCRex, you are a solid teacher and the excitement in your presentations is contagious. Woohooo! Thanks for sharing this. Hope your holidays were spectacular, the new year treats you to its finest, and that your MIL is doing well. Best now and always.
TeddyB!!
2024-01-09 22:43:00 +0000 UTCI got so excited, I bought the course before I saw the half off!! What a dweeb! Worth it anyway.
Julia Belian
2024-01-03 18:34:39 +0000 UTCThis was a fantastic history lesson! I enjoyed it! I do have a beef with you saying that "World War 2 Planes are big and clunky". I'll have you know that planes of that era flew very well and are still being shown in museums.
LiraNuna
2023-12-28 01:23:44 +0000 UTCThanks a lot Rex! Can't wait to see what you have in store for next year. But first enjoy some well earned rest, happy holidays! Btw I think you guys forgot to add the PDF of the timeline as an attachment?
Mellon
2023-12-26 08:12:53 +0000 UTCHappy holidays to all!
Lisa McMullen
2023-12-23 20:13:33 +0000 UTCThanks Rex. To be honest I never really looked at my planes by type beacuse I thought the info was only it was only relevant to collectors. Thanks for making it easy to understand.
Fred Cousins
2023-12-23 17:31:24 +0000 UTCHappy Holidays! Fun informative video!
Bradley Barth
2023-12-23 14:09:52 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas and Happy New Year, to Rex and his family. Also the same wishes for all of the Patreons and their families as well. I hope everyone has a wonderful year ahead and I hope you all build wonderful projects.
Skully Wood and Metal
2023-12-23 11:44:56 +0000 UTCHi to all, and Merry Christmas. I always enjoy these videos about planes. I have some very early planes, one all wood with a iron and have to use a hammer to adjust . Two civil war area, and one made by Ohio tool company. I do use them and love the feel while they're being used. Now Rex I'm throwing a challenge to you. Could you do a video on the Stanley #45 ? . Can't wait!
Ted Foust
2023-12-23 02:01:01 +0000 UTCHappy holidays and all the best to you and your family :^)
Thomas Hverring
2023-12-23 01:19:28 +0000 UTCThanks Rex, this was a very informative video. But there is one aspect of metal handplanes you didn't touch upon that neophytes (like me) might be a little confused about, especially when shopping for vintage Stanley planes. That is the flat vs. corrugated bottom. Does it make a difference? Should corrugated be avoided? It would be good if you could enlighten/advise us on this feature. Thanks again for all your work and best wishes to you and your loved ones for the holidays.
Azzedine Lazizi
2023-12-23 00:46:38 +0000 UTCHi, Rex! A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. I’ve always enjoyed your passion for Stanleys and I’ve learned a lot from you and others about them and how to restore them. This video is great. The topic of the different frog castings was interesting, since Type 16’s (pre-war) were the first to use them along with the “kidney” shaped hole on the lever cap. Anyone complaining about their quality either hasn’t used one or don’t know how to use them! I use a type 16 No. 5 as my daily user and it’s great. My favorite type, though, is Type 13, Sweetheart era. I have a several that I’ve restored. I have a type 14 and 15 in my kit, too.
Sean O'Neill
2023-12-22 23:50:29 +0000 UTCGreat video and very informative. Thanks for the top tips, the wealth of knowledge and the inspiration. I stumbled on your site looking for plans for a better workbench (that I still haven't made, but will eventually) and have since found myself raiding thrift stores and flea markets for tools and furniture in need of some love, so thank you - you've given me a new hobby and with the Patreon community a wealth of resources for advice. Keep up the good work, merry Christmas and happy Hogmanay to all!
Daniel Kennedy
2023-12-22 23:24:04 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas Rex! Great video. I own multiple Stanleys, couldn't tell you what type they are. They all work fine. Have a great holiday seasom with you and yours.
Kevin S Thomas
2023-12-22 22:08:01 +0000 UTCThank you Rex. Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and all of your family. Take a well deserved break and see you next year.
Matt Evans-Koch
2023-12-22 21:58:29 +0000 UTCI love my type 11 #3, but i have to admit that my type 17 works a bit better, and my non-Stanley (at least, I'm pretty sure it wasn't Stanley made now) #7 of around the same era as the #11 works best of all. Ignoring the Veritas custom ;-) I'm biased against the postwar ones because I like the looks of the keyhole cap irons better, as well as the non-nickle plated cap irons (preferably without a logo). But maybe I'll go look at a 5 1/2... (no, bad Ken! Bad! no more planes for you!)
Kenneth Carlile
2023-12-22 21:36:46 +0000 UTCI just finished reworking a really rough No 5, Type 19 like the one in your video. It was owned by my daughter-in-law’s grandfather. Of the six vintage planes I have worked on this one by far was the most worn. The blade was inches shorter. I have a No 4, Type 14, Sweet Heart that cleaned up beautifully. I agree with you as far as having a tool to work with, they are comparable. My only problem is the Japanning is in poor shape and it’s going to stay that way after I looked at the restoration process for that. It has nothing to do with how well the tool works. The handle has lots of shallow flea bite nicks that I might address after checking out your video.
Richard C von Brecht
2023-12-22 19:52:24 +0000 UTCSince you mention it, they went back and forth. There was a brief period where they used stained beech (Type 18, I believe) and then they went BACK to rosewood, but with a strangely heavy varnish. That's what I'm dealing with in the course. You raise a good point. Many people are curious about post-war wood and I didn't mention it.
Rex Krueger
2023-12-22 19:41:40 +0000 UTCI think that USA made post WWII Stanleys didn't have rosewood furniture. That has absolutely no bearing on their function, but I think there's a certain snob appeal to the rosewood. A couple of years ago I got a Canadian made Type 18 #4, thinking it would have generic hardwood furniture, and was pleasantly surprised to find rosewood.
Brian Taylor
2023-12-22 19:28:51 +0000 UTCHappy Holidays and best wishes, Rex!
Aaron Niskode-Dossett
2023-12-22 19:09:01 +0000 UTCHave a very great new year. I love your breakdown of the types and comparative prices of Stanley planes.
Madeleine Yeh
2023-12-22 18:38:57 +0000 UTCGood video. Happy holidays to yall.
Ethan Chitty
2023-12-22 18:18:00 +0000 UTCThank you for sharing all you have this year. Now take your well deserved rest, you have definitely earned it. Take care and Merry Christmas.
Brendan Langord
2023-12-22 18:03:48 +0000 UTCHappy holidays, Rex, and may you and your family have a joyous New Year.
Geoffrey Wilson
2023-12-22 17:32:50 +0000 UTC
