The other day I was watching a PBS program, there was a man with an interesting old car, one of those cars that have receive the proper maintenance and care, without unnecessary excesses, for its 50, 60 years of service; there was some superficial rust on the body surfaces, faded colors for years of light exposure, a few things broken here and there, but in the whole picture a nice car still servicing its owner; The reporter asked the man: Are you going to restore the car?, to what the man said: “I can’t! I can’t erase all the stories, all the memories, they are the life of the car”. It could sounds extreme, but it’s necessary to be extreme when you are defining a concept. When I started “cleaning” some of the first old tools I had, at the end, I had that same sad feeling, to have removed from the tool something so beautiful, so true…

I’m not interested in religions about old tools, I am not interested of making of them idols to serve and praise, much less to gain an elite status because I collect or want to know more about old tools. I am a woodworker; I use all my tools, in my hands they are still alive, the aging process continues. No glass doors here. I’m a Galoot, not because there are five grants planes on my shelve, but because my appreciation, respect and gratefulness for the craftsmans and trades from the past. I prefer to appreciate what I can’t have, instead of having what I don’t know how to appreciate” somembody said.

To weeks ago I came across this Record 311 Combination Bullnose and Shoulder Plane that got my attention, I have been considering this particular plane for years so I was decided to buy the tool. The description was very clear, full of nice pictures and the seller had a Feedback rating of 3022 positive transactions, something I always consider carefully before placing the very first bid. The description of the plane said:

“This vintage Record No. 311 plane is in really excellent condition! It looks barely used. There are no cracks or chips. There is no pitting. No parts are frozen. The original cutter has most of it’s length remaining. The cutter is in excellent condition with no pitting or damage. It looks quite sharp as is. At most it would need very little honing. It comes with the bullnose attachment. It has a really high quality feel. The base measures about 6” long down the center. The cutter is about 1 1/8” wide. This is an exceptional example. ”

The Plane arrived very well packed, plenty of cushion material, at the first glance, sound, in good shape. that’s when I say: “What a great tool I get!!!”

Everything in the tool was ok, , matching the description the seller made. I believe, it’s when many of us place the tool on the shelve and wait for the chance to try the tool, in other words the tool has been accepted. I am not a picky person, I know I am buying an used tool, so I expect the normal wear, scratches and minor digs from years of use. But a $140 plane deserves a closer look.

WHAT I FOUND.
There was not a Close up picture at the description of the tool, so I found these little nicks…..Thta’s not good~

The mouth looked very open to me (3.5mm), but that’s when somebody like me with his first shoulder plane in hands says: “must be the mouth size in sholder planes”.....FALSE!!!!!!

Even the month is uneven, more open in one side….....mmmmmm???.........has been the Bed regrinded and hence the increase in mouth size? (Perhaps to get rid of previous nicks at the edge and thus increase the value of the tool?)
let’s take a closer look:

Those steps don’t look good, the bed has been re-grinded badly….....so now, is the blade resting properly?

The plane is going back to the seller and the money eventually refunded (paypal’s back up). But what I reallly dislike about this experience is just to think about all the honest woodworkers who fall trap in this type of pseudo scams.

On Mar-04-09 at 11:31:10 PST, was added the following:

I receive this email yesterday from the seller:

“Hello. Thanks for the photos. I apologize for the oversights and the hastle. I already refunded your money. I hope this doesn’t sour you to buying from us. We’ve got near 100% positive feedback selling mainly tools. I rarely miss damage or alterations. Bottom line on this one is I didn’t look closely enough. Let me know how much and I’ll reimburse for shipping back to me also. Please insure it to cover yourself if it gets lost. Sorry it didn’t work out”

He is an honest Seller, thanks God, I did not have the same fate on another occasion, that’s why I was a bit worry with this transaction. I just want to clear this Seller name and apologize calling this transaction as a “Pseudo Scam”