From an old wooden tool box in a Pennsylvania farmhouse basement, to an antique store, to my garage workshop, this roughly 110 year old hand plane deserves another chance! Stanley started manufacturing the No.78 duplex rabbet plane in 1884 and continued to do so for 100 years! The electric power router took over and all but retired these planes - except for the fine woodworkers who know their value and capabilities. The rabbet plane is so named for the type of wood joint that it is designed to create. Other names it is known by are rebate and fillister planes.
This particular Stanley No.78 dates to between 1910 and 1920 based on the patent date and the style of Stanley logo. The blade/iron is also stamped 'Stanley Rule and Level Co' - prior to the name change after the merger with Stanley Works in 1920.
The original finish on the tool was applied through a process called japanning - the same finish you would see on antique Singer sewing machines and even Ford Model T's ! And let me tell you - it was made to be durable! And very difficult to remove without sandblasting. I opted for several coats of lack enamel spray paint and clear gloss coat. Removing the minimal surface rust was done with my go-to evaporust. I gave the blade/iron a fresh edge and polished all exposed metal. The plane was missing the depth stop( very common ), but through a stroke of luck I managed to find one sifting through another box of tools at the same antique store! So the No.78 plane is now complete. In all, a beautiful example of an antique American-made tool that is still very much useful and sought after today. If you enjoy the video, remember to hit the thumbs up and subscribe to catch future restorations from Matt's 1791 Garage! Thanks! #restoration #vintage #antiques #stanleytools #handplane #rebateplane #fillisterplane #stanley78
