How much for that planer?

A funny thing happened yesterday afternoon that I thought might make at least a few of you chuckle. It made me laugh out loud (but then I’m just an old fart whose easily amused). When my wife got back from town, she came up to the shop where I was working and put an orange, metal carrying case on my work table. Stenciled in black were the words “SKIL homebuilders plane model 676”. She said she was in one of those indoor, mall like, flea markets and there was a man selling antiques and old tools. She recognized this planer as being just like my SKIL 100, so she plugged it in and pulled the trigger to check it out (and believe me, this woman knows power tools - she has her own compound miter saw, table saw, radial arm saw, drill press, surface planer, joiner planer, two routers, and the list goes on). Anyway, she said that everything seemed to be OK so she wanted to get it for me, if for no other reason than the nostalgia. Knowing that I only paid about $100 for mine brand new, she told the guy that she thought he wanted too much for it (he had priced it at $75) and asked if he would take $60. He said “make it $67.50 and you’ve got a deal”. She paid him and brought it on home. So I now find myself with one that has the tail stock cut off for short boards and kicked up rocker and one with a long tail stock for long boards and gentle rocker. I also find myself in somewhat of an ethical quandry. Do I just keep the new planer or, to be fair, should I take it back, tell the guy what it’s really worth and let him sell it on Ebay?

Life, where would we be without it…

Gene

If the guy was prepared to take that much for it , then he is happy ,your happy, most of all the wife is happy and that is the main thing . Use it and keep the story to tell later on.

Yo Gene…if he was dealer he probably had little or nothing in it so enjoy it.I have bought them in southern pawn shops for $75.00.The only place you get big money for these are on Ebay or within the surf industry.Most folks don’t know that there is no differance between your planer and a model 100.THey changed model numbers and recast the base so the fence used by door guys would mount better.Actually they are bit lighter in weight.I Use one myself.Congrats RB

Waht’s more important, keeping your wife happy by graciously accepting her gift, or making a stranger’s day by returning the gift and telling him he could get ten times that amount!

Seems like your wife would certainly understand if you did the latter!!!

Here’s what you do!

Both you and her take the Planer back and collect your $67.50. take that money and tell your wife how much you love her and then spend it on a nice dinner out for the two of you.

You win, wife wins, antique man wins.

Or you could just keep the planer.

Or you could return it and send me the $67.50!

Drew

Keep the new to you planer…

I always shaped with two Skils, one cutdown, one full length…exactly for your reasons.

Initial skimming with long, final rail cuts on highly rockered shortys with the cutdown.

You feel the weight diff, and for final cuts, you can be more precise with a less guided, but lighter planer.

Take wifey out for dinner, movie, desert, and attention.

Gene, If you are in a quandry as to what to do with that planer. Tell your wife you appreciate the thought that went into the purchase, but you know a guy on Swaylocks who will give you $200.00 for it. (That would be me.) She can then go out and buy something really nice for you instead of just an old used planer. ( probably not even shiney anymore) Waiting anxiously to hear from you. Doug

The ethical thing to do would obviously be to pass it along to someone who will really appreciate that particular model, and at a price that both you and the buyer will appreciate.

God knows there are some great shapers on this forum who for one reason or another can’t get their hands on a skil 100, but who could really make good use of one. Why don’t you set up some sort of contest, or drawing or somthing to help you decide who should have the priviledge of buying it from you. Even at far below going market value, you could make a tidy profit. The flea market guy already made his profit.

Just my $.02

Pandanus, I really like your “everyone is happy” take on this (Especially the part about my

wife). It’s uncomplicated and to the point. I hadn’t thought of it like that. I didn’t

really expect any serious replys to this post. It was just a little somethin’ to bring a

smile or two. Thanks for the input, everyone. Seein’ how it’s 4 to 2 in favor of keeping it,

I guess I probably will.

Well not quite everyone , I haven’t got a skil100 and will offer you $70 US , hey man I know what you paid for it , seriously , probly no good to me anyway as we are 240volts here, I’ll have to do with my makita.