Transitional Totes

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Transitional Totes

7/24/06, 1:51 PM #1

Bob R.
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Transitional Totes

Bob R.

>Were the totes on Stanley's transitional planes generally smaller than on their metallic planes? I just got a 28" No. 33 jointer and the tote on this plane seems smaller than on my metallic stanleys. On my #3, #4, #5, #6 and #7 I can quite comfortably hold the tote with a 3 finger grip with my index finger pointed along the side of the blade similar to how one would grip a saw. However, with the #33 tote, the same 3 finger grip seems tight and uncomfortable. In fact, I'm not sure how to grip this plane comfortably so my tote hand does not feel cramped, and I don't have very big hands. Anyone else notice this or did I just get an oddball plane? I can make a new tote but I don't know if it will fit under the lateral adjustment lever if I make it any bigger than the original. Has anyone ever tried to fit a tote from a metallic plane on a transitional? I know the transitionals don't have the front screw holes of the metallic planes but will a metallic plane tote fit in height or will it interfere with the lateral adjustment lever?

Re: Transitional Totes

7/24/06, 7:38 PM #2

Dave Thompson
Guest

Re: Transitional Totes

Dave Thompson

>My #33 is the same. In fact I think all of my transitionals have smaller totes. I had suspected it has to do with the lack of Flinstone vitamins around the turn of the last century. But this theory has difficulty explaining why the metal planes #4 and greater have larger totes.

I've gotten use to grabbing the smaller totes such that I don't think about it much any more. I just hold the tote with my index finger pointing out (i.e 3 finger + thumb grab).

I thought about making a larger tote for my transitionals, but the problem is that the totes are mounted to the metal frame, and the tote length is limited in size by the projection of the blade. One would have to alter the angle of the tote to get it larger, or else mount it on the wood block base further back.

enjoy,

Dave