Stanley 78 Duplex Rebate Plane 1 12 078

Initial feeback: Delivery was fast and the plane feels very sturdy. Was able to set up and use right out the box without sharpening iron. I was only creating a thin rebate cut of around 6mm. Found the tool very easy to use (although given the small rebate I did find that cuttings got stuck between the mouth and iron and needed to frequently be removed - just pocked it out with little hassle). If you're just doing a couple of pieces it's much quicker to set up and far less messy than a machine router (also not as noisy!) Was able to do this in the house one evening as it was freezing outside with very little mess and without waking anyone.

Seems ok, small defect in casting (hot tear)visible on sole of plane but it is pretty minor. Plane will need to be fine tuned, but this is normal for modern reproductions of the original. Just pleased they still make this tool even though it is now Chinese made and not produced in a Sheffield foundry. Stanley should know there is still a market for quality over quantity!

Excellent plane. Not much instruction with it so YouTube was used to set up properly. Great price

Very awkward to set up. You need three pairs of hands to set the iron correctly into the base; nothing precision about the process. The fence is at an angle which some posts have said it doesn't matter if the rebate width is set at the blade to the correct width e.g. 1/2". However, I have my doubts about this theory as any cuts I do achieve are wonky. Spending a lot of time now trying to compensate for what seem like fundamental failings. If anyone has any tips or tricks in setting this plane up I would be extremely grateful.

The plane arrived with parts missing, rendering it unfit for purpose. The box it arrived in was taped shut with light sellotape and was damaged too- this appeared to be an item that has done the rounds already and I wouldn’t recommend a purchase based on my experience

I am still trying it out at the moment. I am a beginner woodworker, not finding it to easy to set the tool up and also keeping the tool square for cutting the rebates, but will persevere until i am comfortable with using it

Very pleased indeed both the product and the service first rate

I can get over the pretty rough surface and paint job, they're primarily cosmetic, even at €82, and can be improved with minimal fuss butI'm not having fences like a roller coaster. Not for €82. I've contacted Stanley for a warranty replacement because, well, I'm generally a hopeful person. I'll update this review when I hear back. Not having two fence guides could also be problematic but I've yet to use a rebate plane and maybe it would be ok.On the + side, the sole is quite flat, I'd estimate 0.2 mm from end to end difference which wouldn't take too long to true out on a diamond stone or similar. The sides are very close to 90°, close enough for government work, as they say. Guess I'll have to come up with another excuse for shed time this weekend.Edit: Went through amazon for the return process as Stanley sent me from person to person and no one there seemed to care. Is anyone in Stanley taking responsibility for customer service or quality control seriously? I doubt I'll get any Stanley tools again.