I love using hand tools. Quiet, soothing, and very satisfying to use. It gives one more of the feeling of creation and art than power tools. I even used handsaws rip an 8’x3” live edge slab once. Took almost 2 hours ( and a sharpening during it) to get it done. Haha. Now I use power tools for that kind of bulk work.
I have the millers fall version of this plane. Ive been working with the tools all my life. Enjoy your videos your a excellent shop teacher something we had back in the day when i was a teen. Sadly the school's did away with wood shop, metal shop. print shop, ceramic shop. And not to leave out home ec for the girls. So thank god we have machines and power tools because you know we live in a get it done by Friday world.
I have a Stanley 78, but I also have the skewed blade Stanley. The trouble I’ve had with the skewed blade version is adjusting the blade depth. I will typically let the blade sit loose and flat against the wood surface, and tighten it up, but it’s difficult to get in there and gently tap the blade forward with a rubber mallet like I would with an older wooden plane.
I love hand tools , I kept hunting for a skew blade but had no luck finding it , I have a Stanley 78 only 😊 maybe in future I'll get a new modern skew one from veritas 😅.
@@gjbmunc Record made the 078 first (copying Stanley I assume), and they started selling the 778 when they acquired Woden Tools, who made a similar plane with 2 fence arms that they called W78. The W78 did not have the micro adjuster of the 778 (it had one similar to the Stanley/Record 78), but it had a front knob for better ergonomics.
Great video. Can't understand why they dropped the Stanley 280. Maybe the fiddling nature of sharpening slowed sales??? Another great use for the 78/778 is the use of a heavily cambered blade for scrub plane use. I now keep a heavy camber and flat blade on the same plane and use which one is needed. Paul Sellers showed that.
Totally agree with you. I have a very nice Stanley 78, the single rod supporting the fence is not as stable as I would like it to be. Another great episode. Thank you, Sir.
I did discover that the 280 does have it’s own fence system. But the posts and fence won’t work with the 78. But an entire 78 fence system will work with the 280. The screw on post is a bigger diameter than the one used on the 78. So while 78 and 280 fence parts aren’t interchangeable, an entire 78 fence system will screw into a 280.
Will you show how to set up the Stanley 78 fence. I have one I use but I would like better instruction so I don't get uneven rebates possibly from holding it wrong or improper iron setting. Kind regards, George.
Stanley 78 problem fixed: This is the problem where the fence screw was no longer working in the fence. The thumb screw would not grab until 1/8" too far into the hole preventing the fence from sliding onto the arm and re-tapping the hole was the only good solution. By dumb luck, I tried the cap iron screw from the bullnose portion of the plane, and it worked. So apparently, in the Stanley 78, both cap iron screws and fence screw are identical patterns. If I ever need to use the bullnose feature and the fence, (not likely) I can use the cap iron screw from the regular blade position.
Hi love your videos, I inherited a Stanley 78 great for rebates (as we say in UK!) never really worked out what the forward position of the blade was for. Is there a good explanation for it?
This is great information as I am looking to buy a Stanley 78 or even a Record 778 on eBay. They are running from 65.00 to 150 for good used ones. With that said have you used the Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane? It costs $255.00. Just wondering if it is worth that value? I have purchased Furniture Design and Jigs and Fixtures handbooks.
A quick query for you Graham - I’ve recently started using my two (wooden) rabbet planes for some smoothing operations, rather than always reaching for my block and 5.5 planes… is this not good practice? It works I know, but I appreciate I may be building in some iffy technique in the process
Ideally a rabbet plane has a blade that is straight at the edge. A shaving taken across or along the middle of a board will have edges, wheareas a smoothing plane's iron is given a slight crown so no matter how thin the shaving you cannot feel the edges. Additionally, a rabbet is usually required to be flat and a rabbet plane should take a flat shaving, not a 'crowned' shaving.
Stanley 78 problem: The thumb screw hole for the fence is now slightly stripped when tightened all the way. One solution suggested is re-tap the hole. Another solution I will try first is melt a little bit of solder in the hole, then screw in the thumb screw. This solution adds metal verses the first solution which removes metal. I will let you know if the "solder" solution worked.
Unlikly to work; lead tin solder is too soft to be used in screw threads plus you have to somehow persuade it to bond with the iron threads in the fence while ignoring the steel threads in the screw. Either drill it out and retap to the next size up or wait until a cheap 78 comes up on fleabay. Better yet; throw it away and buy a British twin fence rail plane. The Record 778 was based on a Woden, which was itself a copy of a WS…
I love using hand tools. Quiet, soothing, and very satisfying to use. It gives one more of the feeling of creation and art than power tools.
I even used handsaws rip an 8’x3” live edge slab once. Took almost 2 hours ( and a sharpening during it) to get it done. Haha. Now I use power tools for that kind of bulk work.
Of course!
Thank you very much Sir.🎉
Most welcome
thanks for passing on your knowledge it is greatly appreciated .
Very welcome!
I have the millers fall version of this plane. Ive been working with the tools all my life. Enjoy your videos your a excellent shop teacher something we had back in the day when i was a teen. Sadly the school's did away with wood shop, metal shop. print shop, ceramic shop. And not to leave out home ec for the girls. So thank god we have machines and power tools because you know we live in a get it done by Friday world.
You're welcome!
I have a Stanley 78, but I also have the skewed blade Stanley. The trouble I’ve had with the skewed blade version is adjusting the blade depth. I will typically let the blade sit loose and flat against the wood surface, and tighten it up, but it’s difficult to get in there and gently tap the blade forward with a rubber mallet like I would with an older wooden plane.
practice makes perfect, but I might try a light hammerand a slightly tighter screw on the blade.
I love hand tools , I kept hunting for a skew blade but had no luck finding it , I have a Stanley 78 only 😊 maybe in future I'll get a new modern skew one from veritas 😅.
It'll cost a lot more but is also a very good plane.
Thank you once again Graham for the information.
My pleasure!
Thank you Graham!
Record also have one-arm version Fillister, it is 078.
I use it for the most of my rabbets.
Ah, something new every day!
@@gjbmunc Record made the 078 first (copying Stanley I assume), and they started selling the 778 when they acquired Woden Tools, who made a similar plane with 2 fence arms that they called W78. The W78 did not have the micro adjuster of the 778 (it had one similar to the Stanley/Record 78), but it had a front knob for better ergonomics.
Thanks Graham for sharing!
My pleasure!
Great video. Can't understand why they dropped the Stanley 280. Maybe the fiddling nature of sharpening slowed sales??? Another great use for the 78/778 is the use of a heavily cambered blade for scrub plane use. I now keep a heavy camber and flat blade on the same plane and use which one is needed. Paul Sellers showed that.
Good idea!
Thanks a bunch for all the excellent tips, Graham! 😃
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Very welcome! You too.
Great instructional video, thank you 👍
Very welcome!
Totally agree with you. I have a very nice Stanley 78, the single rod supporting the fence is not as stable as I would like it to be. Another great episode. Thank you, Sir.
You're very welcome.
I did discover that the 280 does have it’s own fence system. But the posts and fence won’t work with the 78. But an entire 78 fence system will work with the 280. The screw on post is a bigger diameter than the one used on the 78. So while 78 and 280 fence parts aren’t interchangeable, an entire 78 fence system will screw into a 280.
Good solution!
Excellent tutorial sir , I thoroughly enjoy your channel and you always have the most interesting of topics . Blessings to you .
Thank you so much!
Thank you
Very welcome!
Thanks
Very welcome!
Will you show how to set up the Stanley 78 fence. I have one I use but I would like better instruction so I don't get uneven rebates possibly from holding it wrong or improper iron setting. Kind regards, George.
I'll try and remember when we get to planes.
Stanley 78 problem fixed: This is the problem where the fence screw was no longer working in the fence. The thumb screw would not grab until 1/8" too far into the hole preventing the fence from sliding onto the arm and re-tapping the hole was the only good solution. By dumb luck, I tried the cap iron screw from the bullnose portion of the plane, and it worked. So apparently, in the Stanley 78, both cap iron screws and fence screw are identical patterns. If I ever need to use the bullnose feature and the fence, (not likely) I can use the cap iron screw from the regular blade position.
Congratulations!
Is the Woden version any good? It has two arms like the Record, but a small cutting wheel as a snicker.
Woden planes are generally every bit as good as Record planes (who bought out the Woden line), plus they have two arms unlike the Stanley 78.
Hi love your videos, I inherited a Stanley 78 great for rebates (as we say in UK!) never really worked out what the forward position of the blade was for. Is there a good explanation for it?
The forward position helps when working stoppped rabbets (rebates).
@@gjbmunc thanks that makes sense.
This is great information as I am looking to buy a Stanley 78 or even a Record 778 on eBay. They are running from 65.00 to 150 for good used ones. With that said have you used the Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane? It costs $255.00. Just wondering if it is worth that value? I have purchased Furniture Design and Jigs and Fixtures handbooks.
Prices are going up for everything!
Thank you Graham for this video. However, I think you misspoke and meant to say your Stanley skew fillister is a 289. (not 280)
You are correct
Nice.
Very welcome!
A quick query for you Graham - I’ve recently started using my two (wooden) rabbet planes for some smoothing operations, rather than always reaching for my block and 5.5 planes… is this not good practice? It works I know, but I appreciate I may be building in some iffy technique in the process
Ideally a rabbet plane has a blade that is straight at the edge. A shaving taken across or along the middle of a board will have edges, wheareas a smoothing plane's iron is given a slight crown so no matter how thin the shaving you cannot feel the edges. Additionally, a rabbet is usually required to be flat and a rabbet plane should take a flat shaving, not a 'crowned' shaving.
Very interesting, many thanks Graham! That does make sense - all is forgiven beloved Stanley 5.5
Stanley 78 problem: The thumb screw hole for the fence is now slightly stripped when tightened all the way. One solution suggested is re-tap the hole. Another solution I will try first is melt a little bit of solder in the hole, then screw in the thumb screw. This solution adds metal verses the first solution which removes metal. I will let you know if the "solder" solution worked.
Stanley planes have proprietary, unusual threads. It used to be you could find the tap and die for these.
Tap it the next larger size, install a stud with lock tight and use a wing nut or a knurled brass nut and you'll never have it come loose again.
Unlikly to work; lead tin solder is too soft to be used in screw threads plus you have to somehow persuade it to bond with the iron threads in the fence while ignoring the steel threads in the screw. Either drill it out and retap to the next size up or wait until a cheap 78 comes up on fleabay.
Better yet; throw it away and buy a British twin fence rail plane. The Record 778 was based on a Woden, which was itself a copy of a WS…
All good advice.