Stanley No. 79 Side Rabbet Plane – The Dual-Blade Adjustable Plane for Fine-Tuning Dados, Grooves & Joinery Fit

1. Introduction

The Stanley No. 79 Side Rabbet Plane is a versatile, highly precise joinery tool engineered for fine-tuning the SIDE walls of dados, grooves, rabbets, and tongue-and-groove joints. Featuring two opposed skewed cutters, an adjustable fence, and a removable depth stop, the No. 79 excels at refining joinery so parts fit perfectly—especially when the groove is just slightly too tight.

The No. 79 was widely used by cabinetmakers, furniture builders, patternmakers, and sash-and-door makers who required a dedicated plane for trimming the vertical walls of joinery. Its design improves upon earlier side-rabbet planes by adding adjustability, fencing, and a more robust body.

This article provides a complete guide to the Stanley No. 79 Side Rabbet Plane.

2. History of the Stanley No. 79 Plane

The No. 79 was introduced as an improved, more adjustable version of earlier side-rabbet planes such as the No. 98/99 pair.

Historical Highlights

Introduced around 1915–1920
Designed as a universal side-rabbet plane, replacing the need for left/right matched sets
Equipped with two cutting irons for bi-directional trimming
Included an adjustable fence (major improvement over No. 98/99)
Later versions added a depth stop for controlled cutting
Produced for many decades in both U.S. and England
Sweetheart-era models are considered the finest

The No. 79 became the side-rabbet plane preferred by professional joiners thanks to its adjustability and precision.

3. Manufacturer Background – Stanley Rule & Level / Stanley Works

Established in 1843, Stanley became the world’s leading maker of woodworking planes by producing robust, purpose-built joinery tools. The No. 79 showcases Stanley’s approach to specialty plane design:

Key Stanley Characteristics in the No. 79

Multi-directional cutting
Adjustable fencing for perfect workpiece referencing
Detachable depth stop for controlled cuts
Compact cast-iron construction
Skewed irons for smooth slicing action

The No. 79 is one of Stanley’s most practical and refined specialty joinery tools.

4. Design and Features of the Stanley No. 79 Side Rabbet Plane

Engineered for accuracy and control, the No. 79 is a compact, powerful joinery-adjustment plane.

Specifications

Length: approx. 5½ inches
Weight: approx. 1 lb
Cutting irons: 2 skewed side-cutting irons
Fence: adjustable and removable
Depth stop: removable
Body: cast iron
Iron orientation: bevel-down

Core Features

Two opposed side-cutting irons for left/right trimming
Adjustable fence ensures consistent referencing against work edges
Depth stop (later models) prevents over-cutting
Skewed cutting action for clean slicing in cross-grain and long-grain
Thumb and finger holds for excellent control
Full-iron access makes sharpening simple
Open body design allows chips to clear efficiently

Why Woodworkers Love the No. 79

One tool trims both sides of a groove
Easier to use and more flexible than the No. 98/99 pair
Ideal for micro-adjusting joinery by thousandths
Performs beautifully on both long grain and cross grain

The No. 79 solves the precise problem of “the groove is just slightly too tight”—perfectly and quickly.

5. Usage & Applications

The No. 79 is not for cutting new rabbets or dados—it’s for fine-tuning the walls of already-cut joints.

Ideal Uses

Adjusting dado widths
Refining groove walls for drawer bottoms
Trimming tongue-and-groove joints
Cleaning up the walls of mortises (light paring only)
Fitting shelves, panels, partitions, and drawer parts
Patternmaking and luthiery joinery
Truing up machine-cut grooves

Using the No. 79 Effectively

Let the fence guide the plane for consistent cuts
Keep the depth stop light for micro-adjustments
Use the right-hand or left-hand iron depending on grain direction
Take short, controlled strokes
Sharpen frequently—side cutters dull quickly on end grain

When used properly, the No. 79 makes joinery fit like precision-machined parts.

6. Restoration of a Stanley No. 79 Plane

The No. 79 restores easily but requires extra care on the tiny skewed cutters.

Typical Restoration Steps

Disassemble cutters, fence, depth stop, and screws
Remove rust using Evapo-Rust or citric acid
Lap sole lightly—do not distort the fence-mounting edge
Sharpen both side irons precisely at their skewed angles
Hone bevels finely for crisp side-wall cuts
Clean and lubricate the fence rod and depth-stop threads
Preserve japanning wherever possible
Test the plane in a dado and adjust fence alignment

Optional Upgrades

Replacement irons (Hock or custom-ground)
Polished fence face
Waxed sole for reduced friction

Restoration Mistakes to Avoid

Over-grinding the tiny irons
Changing the skew angle
Rounding the sides of the plane body
Misaligning the fence (ruins precision)
Losing screws—they are unique and hard to replace

When restored properly, the No. 79 performs better than many modern side-rabbet planes.

7. Collectability & Value

The No. 79 is highly collectible due to its long production span and exceptional usefulness.

Typical Value Range

User-grade: $45–$70
Good condition: $70–$115
Sweetheart-era: $115–$160
Excellent/boxed examples: $160–$225+

Value Factors

Completeness (fence + depth stop + both irons)
Iron originality and logos
Japanning condition
Fence straightness
Early vs. late production differences
Original box and paperwork

Missing parts—especially fence, irons, or depth stop—significantly reduce value.

8. Finding Manuals, Parts & Additional Resources

Documentation Sources

Stanley catalogs (1910s–1970s)
VintageMachinery.org archives
Blood & Gore side-rabbet plane listings
Type-study guides
Antique tool forums and collector groups

Replacement Parts

Custom-made cutters
Reproduction fences and depth stops
Screws and rods from tool dealers
eBay and tool-meet sources

The No. 79’s simple design makes sourcing or fabricating replacements practical.

9. Final Thoughts

The Stanley No. 79 Side Rabbet Plane is one of the finest tools ever created for precision joinery correction. With its dual side-cutting blades, adjustable fence, and depth stop, it excels at trimming groove and dado walls to exact dimensions.

For woodworkers, the No. 79 is invaluable for tuning joinery to perfection.
For collectors, it represents a refined, practical, and highly desirable Stanley specialty plane.

A well-tuned No. 79 remains indispensable in any fine woodworking environment.

Quick Reference Summary

Category	Details
Model	Stanley No. 79 Side Rabbet Plane
Manufacturer	Stanley Rule & Level / Stanley Works
Era	1915–Late 20th Century
Length / Weight	~5½″ / ~1 lb
Key Feature	Dual skewed cutters + adjustable fence + depth stop
Best Uses	Dados, grooves, joinery width adjustment
Rarity	Moderate
Typical Value	$45–$225+
Restoration Difficulty	Easy–Moderate
Collectability	High when complete

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