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The only complaint I every hear about the Veritas bevel-up planes is that the rear tote isn’t as comfortable as that on an old Stanley or new Lie-Nielsen plane.
If you are one of those people who prefer a curvier tote (and I am one of them), then I have some excellent news for you.
Bill Rittner, who makes nice replacement totes for Stanley planes, is now offering totes and knobs for the Veritas bevel-up planes. I’ve been testing a prototype version on my Veritas Bevel-up Jack plane for several weeks now. And now Rittner is ready to go public.
I bought one of the first sets he made in cherry and put it on my Veritas jack yesterday. It dramatically changes the way the plane feels (and looks). With Rittner’s tote installed, it feels like I’m holding a Lie-Nielsen No. 62 that has a lot more mass. And after a few hours of continuous use yesterday, I’ve decided I prefer Rittner’s tote to the factory original.
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 rbent.ct@gmail.com. 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
Handplane Essentials
Hey, I wrote a book all about planes, such as this one. It’s a monster of a book. Printed in the United States, and filled with reviews and instructions on set-up and use. We call it “Handplane Essentials,” and it’s available in our store with free domestic shipping.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
