Early Access Video: Buying Vintage Chisels Online
Added 2020-11-14 12:01:00 +0000 UTCFriends:
A recent discussion over on the Discourse got me thinking about how to buy tools when the whole world is locked down. Many of us go to eBay, but that's a tough road. Buying tools you know nothing about with only pictures to look at? That can be a big gamble.
But the safest and often best vintage tools are chisels. You can get outstanding tools for chump change...if you know what to look for.
And showing you what to look for is my job, so I humbly present my Complete Guide to Buying Vintage Chisels on eBay.
(If you like it, I'll do more on other tools.)
Hope you enjoy!
--Rex
Comments
I did see your comment! Amazing coincidence; I'm posting a video TOMORROW where I will take back everything I said about the Richter chisels. They're great and I was wrong.
Rex Krueger
2023-04-14 23:12:22 +0000 UTCRex since this is from Nov.2020 I dought that you will see it but this video is excellentand very helpful. The first set of chisels I purchased were a set of six Narex Chisels for $60.00 and since then I have been gifted others all with no name one set does say made in China and I use them for rough work than use the Narex to finish, I do have to sharpen them more offen but they do what is needed. I am on a fixed income and it is on the low side but that is ok I enjy life and am not indebt too bad. So I enjoy life as that is what we are suppose to do.
Carlos Alvarado
2023-04-12 08:07:45 +0000 UTCJud, I have a method I use and have found useful in Ebay auctions and I believe it can help you secure the item you are bidding on, as well as out bid the last minute bidders. Like you I had the same issues in the Ebay auctions, until I started playing by the last minute bidders own game, kinda. I am not a last minute bidder per se, and I got awful tired of losing all my bids on Ebay to these last minute bidders. It got to the point I started staking out my bids to see if I could find a way to beat these last minute bidders, this is when I started noticing a pattern. I noticed the last minute bidders were placing their bids between the 30s and 15 seconds left mark on the countdown clock of the auction. I would place a counter bid but they would immediately place a counter bid on my bid and win the auction. It made me so frustrated to no end they still won. After a few times of trying and failing I had a thought go off. I thought to myself, "instead of trying to place a new bid in order to beat them, what if I raised the limit of my current bids maximum bid limit at the last minute?" So the next time I went to place a bid, I set alarms to alert me when it was 10 minutes until the end of the auction. At the 10 minute mark I would logged into Ebay, checked my bid, place another bid if I was out bid and then get everything set up to raise my maximum bid limit to 2-3 times the amount I originally had it at. I would have my amount typed in and all I had to do is hit the submit button to raise the maximum bid limit in the very last seconds of the auction. Then at the 1 minute mark of the countdown to auctions end, I stake out my bid and watch the last minute bidders swoop in and place their bids not knowing my sneak attack plan. I sit there hooving over the submit button and when the clock hits 10 seconds I click submit maximum bid limit and BAM, I out bid the last minute bidders and win the auction. It is kinda devious I know but it beats these people at their own game and the method works. Sometimes I try to imagine the faces of those who tried to steel the auction from people like me. It does help knowing I have not lost an Ebay auction ever since. I'm not a big fan of doing this, but have done it several times and the results have been the same each time. I don't use this method all the time on Ebay because it can be quite taxing. I only use this method when it is something I really want and feel it to be worth going to these extra lengths to secure the item I had bid on. The rest of the time I prefer the buy it now option just to avoid the headache, hassle and those last minute bidders. Sometimes paying a little more with the buy it now option is worth the peace of mind in knowing you don't have to fight for the item you wanted. However, then again it can be fun messing with those last minute bidders. 😁 The downside of using this method is putting the time into staking out you bid, making sure you strategically plan every step of the last 10 minutes of the auction, making sure the maximum bid amount increase is still an ideal price and is something you can afford, even though you could be paying far less then the maximum bid amount for the item. The reason for raising the maximum bid amount so high is because then you are ensuring that your bid would surpass any maximum bids the the last minute bidders may have put into place.
Ellen Sloan
2021-03-01 06:51:22 +0000 UTCI am still looking for an affordable but useable hand plane, any ideas about where to look? I am a disabled Viet Nam veteran and live on a fixed income.
Christian Bookter
2020-11-21 17:29:10 +0000 UTCThank you for the very honest video. I agree, you need to feel good about your creative space. I also like you deciding on your core focus. I'm making a hall table out of an old Singer sewing machine base, and you do need several skill sets to pull this off. You should know you do inspire people to work on things they (I) would have never attempted previously. Thank you.
Kevin S Thomas
2020-11-21 13:09:43 +0000 UTCThis was a great video, Rex! Got me itching to hunt for chisels on Ebay, feeling a lot more confident about it than I did while I was hunting for a vintage plane on there.
Greg Brennan
2020-11-20 00:52:43 +0000 UTCI got a whole set of Narex chisels and like them but need to get some heavier mortising chisels - thanks for the advice and I learned a lot (as always)! Could use an online plane buyers guide and maybe a handsaw buyers guide for both Japanese and Western style saws...
Adrian Abshire
2020-11-19 17:59:51 +0000 UTC"Cork sniffers"--love it! I just call them "sad toerags" as a rule, but this is nicer!
Michael Eleftheriou
2020-11-19 16:25:07 +0000 UTCI want a video on vintage saws, i dont know what it is but where I am at we have a lot of garage sales and flea markets but no vintage tools. It is a military town and we have a lot of people who are in and out so the garage sales are usually our enlisted folks just getting rid of stuff they dont want or need to ship.
Billy Schwake
2020-11-19 16:11:22 +0000 UTCLooking forward to the lathe videos.
Colin Winterburn
2020-11-19 03:32:06 +0000 UTCThanks for this video! As someone trying to get into furniture making and cabinetry as a hobby, I greatly appreciate these tips on how to find good tools at low prices. I'm happy to put in the restoration work, and you are giving me the tools necessary to make decent buys and then make them work well. Thanks again.
Greg Whipple
2020-11-18 20:19:05 +0000 UTCA general one would be good. I started woodworking because of your videos. You made me feel like I could do it, so thank you for that. What works for me is just having a starting point. What saw to use for certain cuts, what joint to use for certain projects, etcetera. I like to find one-stop-shop channels that I can search and subscribe to and trust the content. So what's missing on this one-stop on your channel is fasteners. When you simply have to use them, when they're good-to-have but not necessary, and when they are a detriment. When I built the English Joiner's bench (my second wood working project ever, the first was the low Roman bench) I had to calculate the size of the bolt I needed because you didn't just say 6 inches either in the video or on the plans. When you're a total newbie, that is very uncomfortable because you have no confidence and don't want to do it wrong. So, just quick tutorial on common fasteners used in woodworking and when we should use them so we have a starting point would be helpful. You got me started on a wonderful journey. Thank you.
Michael McNairy
2020-11-18 11:12:09 +0000 UTCThis is good to hear; I've been trying to fill out my set of "Urgent" saws per Wood and Shop's buying guide but I haven't figured out what the desirable second-tier makers were and then finding ones with the right size and TPI means that I've looked at a lot on eBay and not found anything. Now I just need to figure out a reasonable substitute or source for the S&J 9550B you recommended in May (which is no longer available on Amazon)...
Wil Cooley
2020-11-18 04:37:56 +0000 UTCyou should talk to dylan iwakuni, Rex. he posts these videos of traditional japanese joints made with traditional handtools that are just mesmerizing.
Jason Quackenbush
2020-11-17 09:06:56 +0000 UTCMy response is, advice to not buy online is...perhaps good advice on and on itself! But okay, what to look for in person. If you do buy online what picture angles are important to see in order to have any confidence. What compromises can be made to avoid the $150 sets. If you are t buying a set, what 1-2 bits would you look for. Others have sharpening auger videos, fine, but is your take slightly different or will you simply say, “ This video by so and so covers everything I’d say on the sharpening front.”
Todd Maurer
2020-11-17 03:15:55 +0000 UTCDraw knives of specifically a draw knife is on my list of tools to acquire to great idea.
Todd Maurer
2020-11-17 03:08:01 +0000 UTCGot that right! I've got a couple dozen out there in various boxes and bins.
Howard Tuckey
2020-11-17 00:49:35 +0000 UTC@10:54, the word collectible is misspelled
Ian M
2020-11-16 22:17:00 +0000 UTCIt wasn't meant as a criticism, just a reflective thought. Your not the only YouTuber that has done this. Wonder what the Children today will think of these videos. It a bit of social history I suppose 😉👍🏻. PS I did enjoy the video 5* as always.
The Deaf Maker
2020-11-16 17:08:33 +0000 UTCYou can do woodworking with it....just not very well!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:05:30 +0000 UTCYou're so welcome!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:05:09 +0000 UTCThat's a lot of good ideas! Thank you!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:04:42 +0000 UTCOkay!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:04:00 +0000 UTCFirst, I must learn more!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:03:52 +0000 UTCAmazing what's mixed in with the screwdrivers, right?
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:03:37 +0000 UTCI would buy those new. There's too much that can wrong with the old ones.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:03:18 +0000 UTCI'll do it. Everyone seems to want it!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:02:53 +0000 UTCI'm on it!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:02:33 +0000 UTCI plan to. Promise.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:02:21 +0000 UTCI'll add those to the list!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:01:50 +0000 UTCJust like a general one? You should send me a message with more specifics on what you want. I'm interested.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:01:21 +0000 UTCYes. Yes I would :)
Thomas Hverring
2020-11-16 17:01:12 +0000 UTCYou going to go with a custom thumbnail for when it goes public?
Scott Miller
2020-11-16 17:00:53 +0000 UTCI'm just not educated on molding planes. I need to get on that.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:00:49 +0000 UTCI think saws will be next, but I will probably focus on Disston.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 17:00:23 +0000 UTCI do!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:59:45 +0000 UTCThank you! That means a lot!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:59:27 +0000 UTCI think this will be a whole series and most of the stuff you mentioned will be on the list. Honestly, I don’t think vintage levels are worth the bother. The new ones are just fine and they don’t need restoration.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:59:07 +0000 UTCYoutube auto-generates three of them. Would you believe this was the best?
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:57:55 +0000 UTCYou're so welcome!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:57:29 +0000 UTCLittle lacquer thinner takes that off. It IS annoying.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:57:14 +0000 UTCI think saws will be next!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:56:42 +0000 UTCBest offer means there’s blood in the water. I go hard on those. I usually offer 50% of asking price.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:56:21 +0000 UTCStrangely, I have not done videos about finding either of those things online. Just added them to the list.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:55:34 +0000 UTCHere’s my suggestion on that: find a beat-up one that you like the design of, purchase cheaply, copy. Those old gauges generally aren’t worth fixing up, but the designs never go out of style.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:54:37 +0000 UTCI'm on it!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:53:22 +0000 UTCI’ll add those to the list!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:53:11 +0000 UTCYoutube auto-generates three of them. Would you believe this was the best?
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:52:21 +0000 UTCI know. I hate dating my videos this way, but the pandemic was the only reason I made a video in the first place!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:51:51 +0000 UTCI’ve seen people do some dumb things to tools, but that’s a new one on me!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:51:21 +0000 UTCMan, I don’t know if you should really buy auger bits online, unless they are boxed sets….. In which case, they cost too much anyway.
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:50:37 +0000 UTCThat is a popular opinion. I’m on it!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:49:31 +0000 UTCYoutube auto-generates three of them. Would you believe this was the best?
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:49:08 +0000 UTCPeople are enjoying this video more than I expected, so I’m going to make a list of all the things that interest them and maybe turn this into a series about tool hunting online. It’s a great idea!
Rex Krueger
2020-11-16 16:47:19 +0000 UTCOh one other think you video on vises was brilliant. Especially when you showed the metal working vise you first used. Your comment that folks said what were brought by wolves? You said no worse, Auto Mechanics I died laughing. Having worked in Parts Stores and Car and Heavy truck Dealers since 1982, as a service advisor and most as a warranty administrator. I could just see the techs I have worked with trying to to do wood work with that kind of vise. I have both but the metal is for only working on cars!
Winston Stone
2020-11-16 14:35:33 +0000 UTCThanks Rex. I guess I will take my Dad's Craftsman Chisels and tune them up. I Bought over time a a set of Marples Chisels that use mostly and they are great. The Craftsman need to be sharpened better to be useable. I have pick up a couple of paring chisels at antique shop that used to be Portsmouth, NH. The down stares was nothing but tools, small gouge and very long mortising chisel. All great tools. Thanks for tip an find and buy tools on Ebay.
Winston Stone
2020-11-16 14:31:07 +0000 UTCthis is fantastic. would love some info about the different brands of bailey plane makers. i loved you video about all the different stanley bench planes and between that and Patrick Leach's html monograph on all the different stanley planes I feel like i know what planes I want and what to look for to get tools that work or can be restored, but i dont know what good prices are, which brands are reliable, and whether its worth it to buy pieces of planes to restore them from parts. I did it once with a no. 5 and feel like i got a good tool out of it at a good price, but i also wonder if that was just luck. also, i would like more info about making handles, and scorps and draw knives. i see those all over the place and i have uses for them since i do luthiery, but there are so many variations im not sure where to begin or what to look for to avoid problems.
Jason Quackenbush
2020-11-16 06:13:40 +0000 UTCAuger bits please!!! Sharpening them, getting bends out of them (sad but true), and just all around types and styles.
Joshua Gentges
2020-11-15 22:52:04 +0000 UTCmore info about Japanese chisels plz :)
Kostas Karanatsis
2020-11-15 21:54:30 +0000 UTCAnother excellent video! I've got several in the "old junk stuff" tub (can't even pick it up) that might be good candidates for restoration!
Howard Tuckey
2020-11-15 19:29:45 +0000 UTCRex, I'd love to see some things on saws particularly joinery saws. I've seen a number of (what seem to be) good deals, but I don't have enough knowledge to really know. I would also welcome anything you would have to say about saw sets. If you're retuning a garage sale find or an Ebay find that seems very important. Thanks!
Nathan Welsh
2020-11-15 19:06:12 +0000 UTCRex this was a good video, but I too seem to have the worst luck with ebay. Although I do think your information on what to look for was quite good. I agree with R.E. Moore perhaps a whole series for old tools would be good content
The Super-wrench Garage
2020-11-15 14:43:22 +0000 UTCThat was just his “patina” face for vintage tools!😂
Sean O'Neill
2020-11-15 04:17:09 +0000 UTCI too would like to see more about saws, spokeshaves, draw knives and hand routers. I've been looking at ebay and found some planes , but am unsure about what to look for in other items.
R.E. Moore
2020-11-15 03:39:21 +0000 UTCI have found eBay to be very frustrating. My experience is that someone will zoom in at the last second and outbid me by nickel. I'm not much of a shopper and would rather get something sooner than later. Poor attention span maybe. I like your tool videos but I hope you will be doing more "making videos."
Jud Greer
2020-11-15 02:11:13 +0000 UTCThank you Rex for the information on buying chisels on eBay. I imagine other auction sites are similar in prices, etc. I have collected a number of chisels from yard sales and antique shops pre-pandemic and find that many of them are excellent in edge holding and handling comfort. Unfortunately the best chisel of the oldies is like the one you showed with the socket totally mushroomed. I would like to see more videos about the usual tools like saws, planes, spokeshaves, hand routers and draw knives. Hand braces and bench vises would also be nice. Take care.
Matt Evans-Koch
2020-11-15 01:56:53 +0000 UTCFasteners. Please do a video on fasteners.
Michael McNairy
2020-11-14 23:01:30 +0000 UTCThanx for another great video. I'd be interested in learning about what to look for and what to pay for wooden moulding planes (especially hollows and rounds), wooden spokeshaves (esp. round bottom) and green woodworking tools like drawknives, froes, hewing axes, etc... Also, some general tips on bidding on mixed lots You know, the stuff left in the bottom of Grandpa's tool bin (or his entire workshop) when he dies. My father had great luck going to estate sales and buying the entire contents of the workshop, but he never passed on that wisdom to me.
Michael Bennett
2020-11-14 22:27:37 +0000 UTCRex-Very helpful video. The discussion many of us joined in on about buying/selling vintage tools on eBay was quite lively and I’m glad it bore fruit in your putting this video together. The info on the different types of chisels and the different makes, what to look for, etc. was quite helpful. You asked if there were other tools we might suggest for a similar future video. I was thinking vintage saws could be a topic? I know you’ve done some vids on them and restoring them, but helping us in what to look for and other brands besides Disston that are so sought after might be helpful. Thanks again! Addition: Another idea would be on vintage rasps and files?
Sean O'Neill
2020-11-14 21:55:52 +0000 UTCAgreed Mike, might I suggest Rex’s video on making your own, looks like a great way to make what you need and maybe save a few dollars
Wayne
2020-11-14 21:51:22 +0000 UTCI purchased the full set https://www.amazon.com/Narex-Woodworking-Chisels-Wooden-Presentation/dp/B0165WKKY2/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=narex+imperial&qid=1605387879&sr=8-7 and have been very pleased. My only "complaint" was that the blades had some sort of lacquer on them which makes flattening the backs a bit of a PITA.
Mark farner
2020-11-14 21:06:46 +0000 UTChttps://www.amazon.com/Premium-Imperial-Cabinetmaker-Hornbeam-863251/dp/B0113LV3NW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=narex+imperial&qid=1605387773&sr=8-1
Mark farner
2020-11-14 21:04:14 +0000 UTCthat was excellent. what is great is that you cover specifics to look for in the picture of the tool. You are clearly very patient in shopping on eBay, great finds. I think that's the real key to eBay, patience. Don't expect to buy a great deal you first time on eBay. Many auctions start out reasonably priced and end up ridiculous. Keep trying, eventually, great deals will be yours! I think it also very important to know the price of high quality brand new tools. Basic Narex chisels are $15cdn, Narex-Richard are $45cdn each, sets are even cheaper. So bidding on a great old Stanely over 45 doesn't make a lot of sense, if you see what I mean.
William Allen
2020-11-14 20:17:16 +0000 UTCRex - this was a super idea. Going through all the commonly encountered types of chisels was exceptionally smart along with a list of the common tool makers to look for. I would vote for similar videos on other small hand tools that beginning woodworkers might be seeking on line. My compliments on a clear, concise and extremely well structured educational video (as always is the case with your videos).
Michael Nix
2020-11-14 17:14:37 +0000 UTCVery informative and useful video. I especially liked the tip about which tool company names to look for on Ebay, or anywhere for that matter. I'd definitely like to see more videos like this about other tools, like saws, saw sets, levels, marking gauges, squares, etc.
Robert A Carbo
2020-11-14 16:32:23 +0000 UTCThe thumbnail, is that your pandemic face?
Thomas Hverring
2020-11-14 15:54:41 +0000 UTCThis was a Great Video filled with info that will be so useful to everyone and I will be using this today. Thank You so very much.
Lawrence Jones Jr
2020-11-14 15:15:24 +0000 UTCCould you add a link to those Narex chisels to the description?
Scott Miller
2020-11-14 14:27:40 +0000 UTCGreat video Rex. As a new woodworker this kind of information is just as valuable as the making videos. I appreciate your well rounded approach. I would love to see something on buying saws online. I see a ton on eBay but I don’t know what to look for and what to avoid. Keep up the good work.
Clint
2020-11-14 14:17:31 +0000 UTCExcellent Video. Tons of information here. I've purchased several chisels on online, and usually look for "or Best offer". I've had great success, and saved a lot of $$. I look at these as you said; as life long tools.
Kevin S Thomas
2020-11-14 13:55:12 +0000 UTCThanks for another great lecture from Rex University! You may already have one of these on hand planes or old saws, but that's what I'd be interested in.
John Fisher
2020-11-14 13:34:25 +0000 UTCI'd love a video about buying/restoring marking gauges. There are a lot for sale, but they all look so worn its hard to tell what's worth getting and what isn't!
Mike M
2020-11-14 13:33:59 +0000 UTCThanks Rex. Very informative. And please, more videos like this. Those of us just now getting back to basics after years of power tool usage really appreciate the information.
Stephen Krajewski
2020-11-14 13:30:42 +0000 UTCEnjoyed the video Rex. Nothing like picking up something cheap(ish) and spending a bit of time restoring. Very satisfying. Auger bits/brace or tenon saws please.
Gareth McMahon
2020-11-14 13:28:20 +0000 UTCGreat video. But that thumbnail is disturbing. This makes me want to restore a bunch of chisels.
Shanni Marmen
2020-11-14 13:25:06 +0000 UTCI am thinking if these videos are still online in 20 years, wonder if people will be asking why can't you go to the flea market? Especially if they were born today. Just a random thought!!!!
The Deaf Maker
2020-11-14 13:14:43 +0000 UTCPs: great video, more like it please! Rasps and files would be a good one.... As would be a video on fitting a socket chisel handle without a lathe (spokeshave should do it, right?)
Evan Van Dyke
2020-11-14 13:12:39 +0000 UTCNooooooo! After weeks of searching I have found the perfect lots of vintage chisels. But they don’t close for a week! Note I am going to be fighting my friends here for them!
Evan Van Dyke
2020-11-14 13:11:44 +0000 UTCOne thing to watch out for, which is hard to see on-line, is chisels that have been incorrectly sharpened. I bought a 1-1/2" framing (firmer?) on ebay which had been sharpened like an ax so that the sharp edge wasn't on the back. It takes a long time to restore a big chisel like that to the correct. geometry
Fred Gosbee
2020-11-14 12:48:36 +0000 UTCWould like to see online Auger Bits video. I saw a "Buy it now" set for $19.95 and $20. Seemed too good to be true. In this case I knew to looker for nickers, which I couldn't see in any of the pictures, so I passed. But I really have no idea what I"m looking for after that.
Todd Maurer
2020-11-14 12:43:09 +0000 UTCVery informative for me. Thanks, and please do more like this.
Charles Hampton
2020-11-14 12:37:17 +0000 UTCIs it only me, or does that thumbnail look disturbingly pixelated? Great video, though!
Tsani Rósenov Sábev
2020-11-14 12:32:24 +0000 UTC
