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Avoid or Buy????

Bigg081

Connoisseur of Man Glitter
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I am adding to my hand plane collection. I am not looking for pretty collectibles but rather users. Getting them old and rusty is way cheaper than newer. What brands should I avoid and what brands should I buy?
 
I have always liked Stanley's of course, but millers falls are great often over looked planes because everyone looks for Stanley's. Millers falls made almost as many planes as Stanley. Ohio brand or Ohio forge is another good one as is Fulton. Any of the above planes once tuned up will serve you well.
 
Stanley, Millers Falls, Ohio, Keen Kutter if you can find them cheap, Winchester brand. Keen Kutter and Winchester were built by Stanley and others. Union is another good brand
 
Craftsman and Dunlap are ok, I have a couple of Craftsmans that I've tuned up and they are fine users.
 
@woodtickgreg @Schroedc

All Stanleys? I’ve seen Handyman and Victor. Are Craftsman and/or Dunlap junk?

Craftsman can be good depending on who made them for them but you want to research to figure that out. I've had a few dunlaps that are good, some bad. Avoid anything with a stamped steel frog. The handyman and Victor and 4 square from Stanley get panned by a lot of people but I've made some of those into pretty decent users.
 
It looks correct, been cleaned up, expect the bids to go higher.
 
Some of the early no. 2s didnt have any markings on the plane body. I have one like that as well.
 
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