The most common user Stanley planes - 4 through 7 or 8 and their "and a half" cousins are so common that no-one is collecting them, so the prices haven't been driven up. The old Stanley Sweetheart planes command slightly higher prices, but more because they're slightly beefier and more stable, so usually more desirable to the user and worth the few extra bucks, but collectors HAVE pushed up the prices of the sweethearts as they're somewhat scarce. Depending on condition, I wouldn't spend more than $50 for one the Stanley-Baileys - maybe I'd go $60 for a really really clean 7 or 8 but that's only if I really wanted a jointer.Barry Daniels wrote:I got mine from eBay. A 4-1/2, 5 and a 6. Each for less than $50. It took me a while to find good ones though. And this was 5 to 10 years ago so prices may have gone up.
To Eric's point, making planes is a lot of fun, and you can make EXTREMELY serviceable planes with the only significant investment being the blade. If you make friends with a machinist you can have them make you 1/4" thick irons that are pretty impressive when heat-treated.