Ebay Stanley tote for Veritas BUJ

[Mike Nguyen]

I have the Veritas BUJ for about 2 months now and use it a lot since I want to see if I need to add the rest for the BU to my collection of hand planes. However, my palm usually felt sore after about 1/2 hour of planing (practicing) so I did a search and found that it's possible caused by the vertical design of the BUJ tote. I found some of the post here mentioned about the ebay tote that's based on the Stanley tote so I bought one to try out. I bought the newer design with 2 holes and boy I am glad I did. The fit and quality of the tote is awesome. I don't think it's worth it to make one yourself to save a few bucks. I think it costs about 12 bucks. I just check ebay and saw that he has newer design with just 1 hole instead of 2. I wonder if he can make a hotdog for the BUJ.
Mike

[Jim Koepke]

I wonder if he can make a hotdog for the BUJ.

Even if you do not have a lathe, making your own hot dog is easy.

Here is one I made and use with my #5-1/2, #6 and bigger planes when shooting.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?130114-Shooting-Board-Plane

Derek Cohen has two different ones he made for his Veritas LA Jack:

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/A%20Hotdog%20for%20the%20LV%20LAJ1.html

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/Building%20the%20Hotdog%20Mk%20II%20for%20the%20LV %20LA%20Jack%20pics.html

His are a bit more refined than mine.

jtk

[Curt Putnam]

I guess we are the opposite. I find the LV totes to be supremely comfortable and the Stanley totes to be cramped and painful.

[Jim Koepke]

I guess we are the opposite. I find the LV totes to be supremely comfortable and the Stanley totes to be cramped and painful.

Stanley totes have undergone a lot of changes over the years.

For the early, larger planes only two of my fingers will fit around the tote. Most made after the 1890s will accommodate 3 fingers. Sometimes they do need a little work at the bottom to keep from pinching my pinky.

One of my totes had a bad break in the middle. Cleaning this up for gluing removed enough wood that I felt it needed an insert to keep it tall enough for the bolt to hold it tight. Well, the piece was cut a little fat. All of my fingers can be wrapped around that tote with a little room to spare.

My take on early tote design is the user would hold the plane with their fingers more or less straight and not wrapped around the tote. This is almost mandatory with the smaller planes like a #1 or #2. This is also how planes were held before they had totes.

Another thing to consider is we all have slightly different structure in our hands. How the tool to hand interface works is a matter each of us will, hopefully, find our own comfort zones.

jtk

[Paul Ryan]

I have heard others complain about the LV totes. I have all of their BU planes and have no problems with the totes. I actually prefer them over the stanley as well. To each their own, too bad all of us dont have the same size and shape hands, and too bad everyone isn't left handed.

[Chris Griggs]

The comfort of the tote may also have to do with the height of your bench. I can't recall where I read this, but my understanding is that the more upright tote of the LV planes was designed for comfort on a bench that is higher. Where as the Stanley and LN totes are designed to be more comfortable while using a lower bench.

[Mike Nguyen]

I have smaller hands so the Stanley tote feel very comfortable for me. I also contacted the ebay seller regarding the hot dog. He responded that he never made one even for his BUJ but he's going to give it a shot and let me know. I know we all can make tote and hot dog for the BUJ. I made 4 tote replacements for my Stanley planes using the plan from Lee Valley which looked good, functional, and comfortable but I know that it can be better because my skill is not there yet. That's what prompt me to buy the the replacement tote from ebay. Besides, I don't think I would save much if I buy the bubinga and make 1 myself.

[Jim Koepke]

The comfort of the tote may also have to do with the height of your bench. I can't recall where I read this, but my understanding is that the more upright tote of the LV planes was designed for comfort on a bench that is higher. Where as the Stanley and LN totes are designed to be more comfortable while using a lower bench.

I have also seen something about this. It is a similar effect with the hang angle of a saw tote.

jtk