Thread: Have I bought a dud?

I know nothing aboiut this one, but i reckon you can teach a pig to sing, you just need to know the right tune.

It's looks very much to me as though it has been painted. You can't conclude anything about its age from that, however something gave them the idea to paint it blue. Or maybe that was their favourite colour, or the only tin they had in the shed.

I have a 78 and, for what it is, it's OK. It's purpose is to cut rebates and that's what it does. It's not really what you would call a fine woodworking plane. If the blade is sharp and you are patient with it, it does OK. It's not great at cross grain cutting but that's not what it is intended to do. Rebates with the grain are it's job.

Hi woden
I agree with Schtoo, but it isn't as hard as all that.

Although I am a bit of a newbie in relation to planes, having bought a few from eBay, the critical issues seem to me to be:

• make sure the blade is as sharp as you can make it - I use the WASP system (http://www.piricdesign.com.au/Downlo...ls_Planes.pdf)

followed by a touch up on an old oil stone. To keep the angles right, I use an el-cheapo honing guide.

• Flatten the sole and get it really smooth - again, it's a question of taste that I use the WASP down to a 600 grit.
• Make sure that the handles are solid (not a question on the #78), you can't plane solidly if the handles are not solid.
• Fiddle around with the support of the blade and its orientation against any frog/bed and the mouth.

I always assume that Imay need to change things to deal with a change in the timber.

Also, don't assume that everything you read in Patrick's commentary, or the other books, or even on this website, is gospel truth. A lot of it is personal opinion (very valuable but not necessarily incontrovertible).

For example, if you read what most people say about the #110, you wouldn't give them any shed space at all. However, having followed the four points above, I have two of them which are invaluable as smoothing planes for areas where I can't use my #4. The fact that they aren't the best in terms of either technology or workmanship doesn't mean that you can't make it work if you fiddle around enough. For me, two were useful because one is set out for hardwoods and the other for pine. Since each cost me less than $10, I reckon they are a bargain.

So I think you will be able to make your #78 sing, even tho' it's blue.

And even if you don't, you will learn a lot along the way.

Cheers
Jeremy

I think you will be able to make your #78 sing, even tho' it's blue.

Well, yeah but you wont make a soprano sing baritone either

Don't expect it to perform like a shoulder plane...

For £11 or so, not too painful a lesson, even if it does turn out bad, and some other (sucker ) will pay about that if you sell it on eBay again when you get it. (especially if you clean the blue paint off.........)

Why in the world would they paint their planes in blue paint?

The 78 works fine for what it is, which is a plane to cut rebates. The one I have does not seem to have any real vices, is simple to setup and use and does what it is meant to. I probably paid a similar amount when you convert to AUD and am happy with the price paid.

Blue paint must have been the in thing.
My Record 78 is painted blue, too. Fortunately, I do not get blue when using it.

Woden,

I don't reckon the plane you have bought is a Stanley. I reckon it might be a Record. Record made a Stanley No. 78 copy and numbered it the 078, just like the one you've bought. The Stanley one was numbered 78, without the zero at the front. Record planes were originally painted blue but the paint on the one you've linked to does not look like the original paint job, it has been redone.

Wodden

it's a Record #078
from memory (meaning I don't want to look up Blood and Gore or do a search across the forums) Patrick thinks the Record version is better than the Stanley

you'll need to clean the paint off the sides


ian

Hi Woden

I reckon that Ian is correct and that you have a Record 078, not a Stanley. It has been painted, nevertheless, and you have two choices - always wear sunglasses when you use it or strip the paint and repaint it. I know what I would do.

This plane will work just fine. The #78/078/778 is not a plane for delicate work. It is to rough out rabbets, to remove a lot of wood fast. It does not have the delicacy of a shoulder plane nor the fine shavings on gnarly timber of a smoother. So don't fret. Use it as is, then if you want to upgrade the performance get a LN blade for it. I really don't think that this is necessary.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Interesting comments. I have two 78's both used when I was still in the trade (in the 60's) for adjusting rebates in casements and doors. I still use them now. Both have had end grain cutters fitted and were painted black.
Jim

Woden

If you do decide to strip and repaint, you don't want paint on or in the depth stop's track nor on the cross grain spur or the face that in use will ride on the side of your rebate.

my experience is different to Derek's.
you can take a fine shaving with this plane. (maybe not as fine as with a smoother, but still a fine shaving)
as always a sharp well adjusted blade is a must


enjoy it

ian

Everyone's beaten me to this one - yeah, it's a Record; yep, been repainted; nope, it's not a dead loss. I have, erm, one or two different models of rebate planes and despite having a Woden two-rod version (hah, that's the one you want! ) I actually prefer using the Marples equivalent of the 78 - which is bright red; how's that for a paint job? Keep it sharp, don't expect it to be brilliant on end grain and the finish will likely be a bit choppy cross-grain, but it's a jolly useful plane. There weren't thousands and thousands of them made for nothing.

Cheers, Alf

Originally Posted by woden

To make matters worse I'm now reading something over at Old Tools where they're saying the no 78, no matter what age, is no good anyway. It can't do across the grain and its much too rough everywhere else.

And come to think of it maybe the reason I got it at such a low price (£3/£7.50p&p) was because everyone else was wise to the quality problems and didn't want the bloody thing! Don't I look stupid. I must admit the lack of interest did raise concerns but the price and the fact it had the death stop and fence just seemed too alluring.

Ah well, you know what they say 'buy in haste...


Ps. Even if this is a heap of junk does it really matter? Surely you could use this to rough out rebates - even across the grain - and then tidy them up using a shoulder plain with an adjustable mouth or the likes of a Lie Nielsen skew block plane?!!

Don't listen to the bull$#!+ mate The no.78 is a great plane and has a place in almost any tool kit.
In 20 years as a professional woodbutcher my main planes are #5, low angle block, compass and No. 78.
The only downside is that they are so easy to break, so if you buy off fleabay just be sure they haven't been dropped and what's 7quid - about $22 AuD - That's cheap. I'd have bought that as a backup for when mine eventually gets worn out or dropped.
Cheers