I have to confess... buying old woodworking tools on ebay is an addiction of mine. I have bought more than a few tools online and I would like to offer some advice to you if you are planning to buy on the internet.
1. Buy complete tools only. There are many vintage tools online with missing pieces , don't buy them with the intention that you will find the spare parts to fix them. It just will not happen. I am speaking from experience here.
2. Review the return policies of the individual sellers , they can set their own return policies. I have returned two items on ebay, both with the full support of the sellers.
3. Seek out a friend who owns the tool you are looking for and ask to borrow it. If you use it and find out you really don't like it, you just saved yourself a bunch of money.
4. The condition of the tool really matters if you are a collector or a user. If the tool has some rust on it you can easily clean it up and use it.
5. Know the approximate value the tool you are bidding on. I recommend buying the book: The Stanley Little Big Book 2006. This pocket sized book is a thorough reference on every plane Stanley made. It also lists prices based on condition.
6. Don't get caught up in the excitement of the bidding! Remember if you happen to be bidding against a collector, and you are a user, the collector may be willing to pay a lot more money than you would. There are a lot more fish in the sea......
1. Buy complete tools only. There are many vintage tools online with missing pieces , don't buy them with the intention that you will find the spare parts to fix them. It just will not happen. I am speaking from experience here.
2. Review the return policies of the individual sellers , they can set their own return policies. I have returned two items on ebay, both with the full support of the sellers.
3. Seek out a friend who owns the tool you are looking for and ask to borrow it. If you use it and find out you really don't like it, you just saved yourself a bunch of money.
4. The condition of the tool really matters if you are a collector or a user. If the tool has some rust on it you can easily clean it up and use it.
5. Know the approximate value the tool you are bidding on. I recommend buying the book: The Stanley Little Big Book 2006. This pocket sized book is a thorough reference on every plane Stanley made. It also lists prices based on condition.
6. Don't get caught up in the excitement of the bidding! Remember if you happen to be bidding against a collector, and you are a user, the collector may be willing to pay a lot more money than you would. There are a lot more fish in the sea......
