The Woden W78 improved DUPLEX RABBET & FILLETSTER PLANE
History:The Woden W78 was the first plane sold by The Steel Nut & JosephHampton Ltd. (SNJH) following the takeover of W.S Manufacturing. An early advertisement from 'The Woodworker' of February 1954 highlights the main features of the newly introduced plane. “A THOROUGHLY TESTED AND PROVED PRODUCT” This must refer to the Stanley 78 pattern of which this plane and the earlier W.S A78 were modified copies. “improved” because the plane has a twin arm fence, superior to earlier Stanley planes and a front knob to facilitate use as a smoothing or trimming plane. The earlier W.S A78 had these same features, but the Woden was further improved (see comparison below).
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 W78
nearside view
 W78 offside view
 W78 lever cap, cutter and adjustment
assembly
 Cutter and lever cap, rear view  W78 fence, guide rods and locking screws
Table 1, W78 screw threads
 late W78 advert from 'The Woodworker' |
The W78 Rebate Plane in detail:This is one of the most complete examples in my collection,c.1957. It has all the features most commonly found on examples of this plane. Many lack some parts, particularly fences (which break easily), knobs, depth stops and washers (which are easily removed and misplaced). The body casting is 10 inches long overall (255 mm); the sole is machined smooth to 8-1/2 inches long by exactly 1-1/2 inches wide (38 mm). On the nearside, it has the casting number “B07” inside the knob and the mark “2” in front of the mouth, below the depth stop screw inside. The body space underneath the depth adjuster lever is cast marked “W78” and “MADE IN ENGLAND”. On the offside rear, there is a 1 inch deep by about 2-1/2 inch long inset panel with a knurled face. On this face is a 1-1/2 inch by about 11/16 inch “WODEN” brand cast mark which is painted red. The latter two body marks are the most common found on this plane. The nearside and offside working faces are bright and finished smooth. All other surfaces apart from the two cutter seats are painted in Woden blue stove enamel. The handle is an integral part of the body casting. On the top surface is the Woden brand transfer slide, as on bench planes. The clamping plate or lever cap is a bright chromed brass casting, with a 15/16 inch long fixing screw having a ½ inch x ¼ inch fluted cheese head which is also chromed. The lever cap is approximately three inches long by 1-3/16 inches wide. There are no marks on this part. The bright steel finished cutter is 1-17/32 inches wide and 3/32 inches (2 mm) thick and has the Woden printed brand mark on the top. Cutter pitch is 45 degrees. The cutter sits bevel down on the centre (normal) seat, or with the handle removed, the forward (bull nose) seat. It is secured through the lever cap by a 15/16 inch long raised headed and chromed machine screw. The cutter is adjusted by means of a chromed pivoting lever and notched cam which engages with one of eight projecting ribs on the back of the cutter. Press down to retract the cutter and press up to advance. The lever is riveted to the body casting but is free to move easily to effect adjustment. There is no depth adjustment when the cutter is fixed on the forward seat. There is no lateral adjustment; the cutter is aligned with the offside outer body side and then loosely secured with the lever cap screw prior to normal adjustment. Tighten the lever cap screw after adjustment. The fence is 8-1/4 inches long (210 mm) with the working face machined and polished. The two fence arms are 1-3/4 by 9/16 inches and have short central ribs on top. These slide underneath the sole and keep the fence face parallel with the body sides. There is a slight countersink on the inside of the fence guide rod holes to facilitate insertion. The locking screws are 11/16 inches long with ½ inch diameter by 3/16 inches deep fluted cheese heads which are chromed. On the underside is the casting number “B08” and the mark “5” on the top face of one fence arm. Apart from the working faces and locking screws, the fence is painted Woden blue. The two fence guide rods are 3-1/4 inches long, 5/16 inches in diameter with just over ¼ inches of thread. These screw into either side of the body casting to locate the fence. The chromed rods have rounded ends and small through holes to facilitate tightening of the rods in the body. The depth stop is a small 2-1/2 by 1-1/2 inch casting which fits into the offside of the plane adjacent to the knob. It has a bright and smooth finished lower face. There is a small mark "2" on the top inside face. The front rib of two on the inside face is shaped to match a vertical channel on the plane body. The rib guides the stop in the channel, whilst the other (rear) and flatter shaped rib keeps the stop clear of the plane body. This, in conjunction with the shape of the stop bottom, avoids the possibility of fouling the cutter. The stop is adjusted and secured by a ½ x ¼ inch chromed round fluted cheese headed screw with a wide flanged inner face, and plain washer. The washer may not have been an original part. The disc cutter or spur on the lower offside body, is a small hardened steel D-shaped part secured by a ½ inch long countersunk machine screw with a blued finish. The top of the part is missing on this example. The spur is shown in the normal position (not in use). For cross grain work, release the locking screw to let out a corner of the spur, before re-tightening the screw. The knob can be fitted if the cutter is used in the normal position. It is dark brown/mahogany lacquered beech and secured by a raised headed screw through the front cutter seat. There is a shaped metal washer/ferrule inside the knob so that screw head wear on the wood is minimized. The plane is packed in a shallow L1 labeled box with blue and buff printed Woden Plane Instructions. There is also a Woden brand label tag, (See packaging in Dating Page). The screw threads used on this plane did vary over time. This plane and other early examples used a coarse BSW thread for the lever cap and fence locking screws. Later planes used a finer thread. See table 1.
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Comparison with earlier W.S A78 planes:It is evident that the W78 was derived from the earlier W.S A78.much thicker on the Woden plane, 5/16” compared to ¼” on W.S. The W.S body has its brand identification cast marks and transfer slide brand label on the handle. Otherwise, there are no numbers or marks, the same as early Wodens. The cutter bed of the W.S is longer, extending higher up than Woden and the depth adjuster fits through a slot in the bed to engage the underside of the cutter. Cutter mouths on W78's are cut slightly further forward than W.S, by up to 1/8 inches on very early examples. The W.S fence has no marks but it does have longer ribs on top of the fence arms, as seen on early Wodens. bright chrome finish. with a mahogany coloured finish, the same as the bench planes. The W.S knob has a slim waist and a natural beech finish. “SHEFFIELD” and “CAST STEEL”. The Woden mark is printed and has “MADE IN ENGLAND” at the bottom. The W.S cutter is thicker than the Woden. The Woden cutter has wider adjustment ribs on the reverse. Woden blue paintwork was darker. On W.S planes, the bases of the body, fence and depth stop are linished, whereas Woden have a bright and polished finish. Generally, as with the bench planes, original Woden paintwork and small part protective finishes were superior to W.S. The depth stop is missing but is exactly the same as Woden. |
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User instructions and workshop tips:The W78 is described as a versatile tool, as claimed in thelast section of the Woden Plane Instructions:-
The plane can be used as a rebate plane or, with the fence removed, a narrow soled smoothing or trimming plane. The knob is intended for the latter use; it has little advantage when rebating and must be removed for bull nosed work. When used as a bull nosed plane, it is possible to work up to about 3/8 inches from the end of a stopped rebate or face. depth stop, care must be taken to avoid pushing the stop upwards when approaching the rebate bottom. A depth stop washer may not have been supplied originally but the security of the stop setting is improved by using one. A disadvantage of these planes is wear on the tips of the cutter adjustment lever. The metal is soft and tends to ‘round over’ with time. Similarly, the ribs on the underside of the cutter are also liable to wear. As with most vintage grey iron castings, the plane body and fence are quite brittle. If dropped, the body casting is likely to break, typically in line with the cutter. The fence could break at any point if not carefully handled. This also applies to storage or packing. When boxed, ensure both the body and fence are well padded and isolated from each other.
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Record (Woden) W78 planes:These planes are essentially the same as SNJH examples,with the same bodies and fences apart from the markings and usually with a Woden stamp marked cutter. They were either assembled at Sheffield from a mixture of original Woden and Record small parts, or made using Record specified parts, with or without modifications. and small parts. Please see the Dating Page for more information on these planes. It is notable that in the early 1960's, Record were selling three metal rebate and fillister planes - its 078 pattern; its improved 0778 pattern introduced in 1959 and the Woden W78.
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 a Record-Woden W78
c.1961/62 |
