Stanley 78 or 289 DIY “Fugly” Fence

Stanley 78 “Fugly” Fence Fixture

The fence your 78 and 289 should have come with.

The Stanley 78 is one of the best little rabbet planes ever made — but most of them are missing the fence. Originals can run $40+ (when you can even find one).

This is the solution I built instead. It locks in solid, stays put, and gets your 78 back in the shop where it belongs.

I personally love this tool for rabbeting picture frames — quick setup, clean results, and a ton of control once you’re dialed in.

What You’re Getting

• Fits Stanley 78 and similar rebate planes
• Compatible with Stanley 278 using the included post
• Rock-solid fence fixture — stable, strong, user-tested
• Includes threaded post + securing hardware
• Pre-assembled and ready to install

Wood this batch (Walnut)

This batch is walnut — chamfered, engraved, and hand-finished so you don’t have to square up and finish a board yourself.

Each piece is unique. Small variation is normal — it’s real wood, made for real shop work.

Optional Add-Ons (Save a Little)

These are the parts most 78 owners are missing anyway, so I bundle them as add-ons:

• 2-pack of 10-28 screws — the commonly missing “cursed” thread
• Replacement spur & spur screw
• Depth stop for repeatable cuts
• Second fence fixture for left/right centering setups

The Antique Doorknob (Fun + Practical)

This is the one people laugh at… until they try it.

The antique doorknob is not a handle — it’s a pressure knob. It gives you a comfortable place to apply side pressure into the fence and a bit of forward momentum through the cut, so the plane tracks steady instead of wandering.

It’s one of those “why didn’t Stanley do this?” upgrades. Once it clicks, people love it.

Fugly in name. Solid in use.
Built to keep your Stanley 78 cutting — and your projects moving.