Replies

1. 
   roc | Apr 25, 2011 10:24pm | #1

   Way to go on making your bench !

    Hey MKWerman,

   Sounds like you are well on your way !  Your question is right up my alley.  I am male by the way. I have small hands, have done a ton of planing lately to flatten work bench and dining table all by hand and have experienced hand pain similar to yours but not entirely.  I got to where there was no pain at all so there is hope for you.

   I will go look for previous posts I made here in Knots and provide links that will keep me from having to sort my thoughts out all over again.

   In the mean time I would say this about that:

   •  Don't bother with a new tote; at least not yet.

   •  I thought my more sophisticated LOOKING totes on my Lie-Nielson planes would be the most comfortable; turned out the Veritas totes were just fine in use and some what more comfortable in at least one case.

   The short term solution may be to :

   A.  wear a padded glove like a bicycling or weight lifting glove; fingerless so is cooler.

   B.  give your self permission to take your time to build up your hands over weeks or months and to rest them when you are pushing into the area of pain.

   C.  learn to, if you are not already doing this, plane with both hands.  I mean first your dominate hand on the tote and later your other hand on the tote to give the dominate hand a rest.  Not easy, can be slow going but at least you are getting some work done when using the non dominate hand.  Helps to balance your body and brain as well.

   D.  concentrate your pressure on the tote lower down over the whole length of the tote rather than just where the pain area is that you described.  When pushing relax your hand as if you were not gripping it but just pushing with your some what opened hand and then just grip it to pick it up.  I hope that made sense.

1. 
   roc | Apr 25, 2011 11:53pm | #2

   The new Knots is "Fun"

   I gave up looking.  The old Knots one could find old posts and refine the search.  Now  ! ? ! ?  Well lets say the search functionality is less than stellar.

   Part of what I discussed a couple of years ago was that the LN tote on the bevel up jack seemed great, looking at it.  In practice it gave me a pain in the palm of my hand like a frog or cramp.  I have several other LN planes and they did not cause pain. The Veritas handles seemed straighter and less "expensive" to make.  Turns out they can be more comfortable in use.  Hmmmm.

   Any way I eventually built up my hands and now have no problem with my LN BU jack.  I was considering filing on the tote or making a new tote but I was not clear on how to make it different to solve my pain problem.  Turns out I just needed more time in the saddle.

   PS:  I have the Veritas Bevel Up Jointer and like it a lot.  What I am saying is :

   the tote design is a good one

   May be as good as or better than the more curvaceous LN or other after market totes.

2. 
   derekcohen | Apr 26, 2011 01:40am | #3

   Hi MK

   I will echo Rocs' comments and advice. My own involvement with these planes has been from a pre-production point, and so I have seen a couple of incarnations of the totes. Rob Lee, who heads up LV/Veritas, said that the totes were designed for ergonomic reasons rather than as an alternative to the traditional Stanley type. I have made my own at time, even modified them, and after a year would return to the originals and recognise that they simply work better on the larger planes.

   It sounds like you are still getting used to a large plane, so stick with it.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   mkwerman | Apr 26, 2011 06:05pm | #4

   Thanks to both you and Roc

   I really appreciate the encouragement being a newbie to the hand tool world.  As I said to Roc, I definitely think more practice will be good.  I kept thinking the totes are designed for a reason.  I am going to keep trying to work with it.  All in all, it is a great plane.

   Thanks,

   Marsha

1. 
   7Joel | Apr 26, 2011 07:45pm | #5

   You will get a workout from a jointer. I have an old Stanley and cannot comment on the LV tote but here's an option. The below is from PW's blog  --

   "The only possible disadvantage Rittner’s tote has to the original is that it is attached to the plane’s body with one bolt instead of two. My guess is that it will not be a problem, as the Veritas has a large metal boss below the tote, and Rittner’s tote fits securely over that. But only time will tell.

   Here are the details:

   The knob and totes are available in cherry or walnut for all the Veritas bevel-up planes and the large scraping plane. The cost is $40 per set, plus shipping. Rittner says this is an introductory price, but he didn’t say when that would expire.

   If you’d like to order a set, send an e-mail to Bill at [email protected]. The turnaround time is 15 to 30 days. When the work is complete, Ritter accepts PayPal or a USPS money order.

   I’m a big fan of Rittner’s totes. I have a couple sets on my old Stanleys. And now, thanks to his totes, I like my Veritas Bevel-up Jack plane even more.

   — Christopher Schwarz  "

1. 
   mkwerman | Apr 27, 2011 06:26pm | #6

   The workout

   Thanks, I had also read this and that was one of the reasons I asked the original question.  At this point, I am going to see if things settle in before I start messing around with a new tool.

   By the way - you are right - It's a great workout!

3. 
   mikewischmann | Jun 23, 2011 10:21am | #7

   Veritas BU Plane Totes

   I actually make and sell custom totes for Veritas Bevel Up planes, LA Smoother, and Large Scraper Plane

   Typically I make them out of Bubinga (same wood Lee Valley uses) but it can be anything.  I can also make up matching knobs if you would like so you have a matched set, though it is kinda a moot point if you go with Bubinga

   I currently have 3 designs for the Bevel Up planes

   Which version would you like as there are a couple of options

   1.) Two Bolt Design WITHOUT reverse taper (original design)

   2.) Two Bolt Design WITH reverse tape (new design)

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110695003948&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT

   *in the second picture on the listing the left tote is the new design with reverse taper and the right tote is the original design without the reverse taper

    

   3.) Single Bolt Design (mimic's vintage Stanley Bedrock type 7 totes)

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110705884113&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT

   For smaller hands, people usually prefer either the two bolt WITHOUT the reverse taper or the single bolt version

   Let me know if you are interested, my email address is [email protected]

   -Mike

4. 
   mikewischmann | Jun 23, 2011 10:21am | #8

   Veritas BU Plane Totes

   I actually make and sell custom totes for Veritas Bevel Up planes, LA Smoother, and Large Scraper Plane

   Typically I make them out of Bubinga (same wood Lee Valley uses) but it can be anything.  I can also make up matching knobs if you would like so you have a matched set, though it is kinda a moot point if you go with Bubinga

   I currently have 3 designs for the Bevel Up planes

   Which version would you like as there are a couple of options

   1.) Two Bolt Design WITHOUT reverse taper (original design)

   2.) Two Bolt Design WITH reverse tape (new design)

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110695003948&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT

   *in the second picture on the listing the left tote is the new design with reverse taper and the right tote is the original design without the reverse taper

    

   3.) Single Bolt Design (mimic's vintage Stanley Bedrock type 7 totes)

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110705884113&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT

   For smaller hands, people usually prefer either the two bolt WITHOUT the reverse taper or the single bolt version

   Let me know if you are interested, my email address is [email protected]

   -Mike

5. 
   wcritt | Jul 16, 2011 08:16am | #9

   Veritas Totes & Knobs

   I make replacement knobs and totes for the veritas linr of bevel up planes. Contact me here: [email protected]

   
1. 
   mkwerman | Jul 19, 2011 09:45pm | #10

   Keeping what I have

   Thanks to everybody who responded with the option to buy a new tote for my Veritas jointer.  I have taken Roc's and Derek's suggestions and things are better.   I am really liking this plane the way it is.  I am thinking of buying the Veritas jack next, so we'll see how that goes.