Thread: Stanley No. 78 Rabbet Plane - should I get it new or second hand

Is there still sea mail?

Normally I would never suggest a new Stanley bench plane over an old one - but at nearly the same price for a complete new one, versus an incomplete old one, I'd maybe waver...

Originally Posted by jmk89

I would look about for the equivalent plane made by WS or Woden in Birmingham. Here is a link to one on sale on eBay at present. When Hamptons (the Record company) acquired The Steel Nut & Joseph Hampton Ltd in the late 1950's, they kept their 078 with no front knob and a single fence rod but the WS/Woden W78 became the Record 778, so look for that as well

I agree, the two arm A78, W78 or 778 is a better design - but I disagree with the history.

There's no doubt that WS's A78 morphed into Woden's W78. But I believe Record brought out their 778 in direct competition with the W78 maybe 5 years before they took over Woden's plane lines. Apart from having two arms - and the general Stanley duplex shape - in detail the 778 has nothing in common with the W78 (different arm spacing; different method of fixing the arms; different style of nicker; different method of depth adjustment, etc). But I'm off topic

Originally Posted by justonething

Is there still sea mail?

I've had tools shipped from UK and USA in the past decade by surface mail. In NZ they ditched sea mail maybe 15 years ago (and have recently ditch the cheapest airmail as well - sods!). And I have a feeling UK may have ditched it two years ago (but I'm not sure - just couldn't find it on the Royal Mail website).

Cheers, Vann.

Been on a lookout for a Woden but hadn't been successful. Got a couple of stanley's though from the local tool sale.
This morning finally lady luck turned and picked up this beauty. GBP 6.50 for the plane but 30 squid for postage. I think postage is a bit steep but overall I'm happy.

Nice score.

Wow, that is still a good price after postage.

I bought two a couple of weeks back this one is very sad looking, neither came with fences which is a bummer as they aren't cheap!
Stanley.jpg

Originally Posted by justonething

I emailed the seller to confirm postage, which is about 23 pounds. It's a very nice plane. I want it now

Chief Tiff, where do you get Anant planes?

India.

I've not had one in my hand, but have heard sufficient cautionary tales that I probably don't want to have one in my hand.

I've never bought from ebay uk before. It's a little different.
Firstly, Everything was converted to AUD, and there is no option that I could pay directly with GBP. (exchange rate is less favorable at 1.91 vs 1.84 from a normal Fx conversion).
Secondly, It appears that the seller is getting 5.99 for handling and shipping to Pitney Bowes that handles the global shipping on behalf of ebay, and Pitney Bowes gets 23.45 for international shipping.

Originally Posted by justonething

I emailed the seller to confirm postage, which is about 23 pounds. It's a very nice plane. I want it now

Now I understand why it was GBP 23 postage for the last Woden that I was interested and is 30 quid for this one. The difference is how much this seller wanted for handling and packaging the parcel.

I picked this one up at the TTTG sale this year, for more than double the price shown on the original price tag that was still on the box, $21.95. At a guess I'd say it was from the late 60's - early 70's. I don't think it was ever used & has all the original Stanley waxed paper wrapping.

No 78.jpg

Originally Posted by 62woollybugger

I picked this one up at the TTTG sale this year, for more than double the price shown on the original price tag that was still on the box, $21.95. At a guess I'd say it was from the late 60's - early 70's. I don't think it was ever used & has all the original Stanley waxed paper wrapping.

No 78.jpg

Nice work!

Thanks to this thread, my old 78 now sports a front knob: Knob1.jpg

I was using it today to trim some tenon cheeks and the flaking Jappaning around the front was irritating my hand. Then I remembered this thread, and the pics of the Woden with its wooden knob screwed into the front blade bed. So I decided to investigate how difficult it would be to cobble up something a little more hand-friendly. First, I checked the screw and found it is as near as dammit to 3/16" Whitworth. Got lots of 3/16" bolts, so I went ahead and made a knob. I was going to just screw it on with a round-headed bolt, but decided to go the whole hog & make a brass stud and nut, just for fun.

It wasn't quite as straightforward as I planned. I started with a bit of wood about 30 x 30mm, so I could turn a knob of reasonable size. To set it on the blade bed so that it doesn't hang over the edge & get in the way, I had to offset it a bit by cutting away the left right hand side (depends on which way you are looking at it!) to allow it to snug up to the arch that supports the toe: Knob2.jpg

So what should have taken about 1/2 hour took about 3 times that, but I'm pleased with the result, and it's certainly more comfortable to use for planing tenon cheeks now!

Cheers,

I'm actually going to be a bit not nice Ian sorry.
I'm not a big fan of it.
It just sort of looks a bit out of place.
But that is just my opinion and yes I know I can be a bit out there ,with that kind of stuff.[emoji3]
But then as I think ,we both agree on if it works and works for you it works.
So I give you two [emoji106][emoji106]for that

Cheers Matt

Matt, no worries, I'll be the first to agree it's not the prettiest solution to a problem.
My reaction when I saw the pic of the Woden knob back however many posts was the same - I thought it was downright fugly. I thought I could improve on their pretty crude turning, & I think I did, a little, but it still looks like an afterthought, and of course, it is. However, it does give me something a bit more comfortable to hang onto when guiding the plane, so it stays until I either figure out how to fit something more attractive, or more functional, or re-japan it.....

Cheers,

I would go comfortable to use before looks on a hand plane. I was lucky enough to get a plane with the original knob. I had not seen a front handle on a 78 before that but I was really impressed first time I used it. The front handle makes you feel more in control of the plane. If I can get away with it I often use the 78 instead of the shoulder plane as it is nicer to hold. Makes you wonder why the makers (Record and Stanley) let them go.
Regards
John

The Stanley #78 is still an excellent plane to use despite its early vintage; the one I have is the Duplex model with the built in depth adjuster. Mine doesn't have the depth stop, but I don't find that a real issue. More importantly, the iron and knicker that's in service need to be sharp; the adjustable fence is set to match the required width of the rebate; and that you always work the depth of rebate with the grain.

Stewie;