A New Bookmark: Hardware City Tools for Totes

When you buy vintage Stanley planes in the wild, one of the most common problems is the tote – and sometimes the knob – are trashed.

My first No. 5 had a crude replacement tote that was so poorly rasped that it looked like it was furry. I’d always intended to make a replacement but never got around to it.

Then I found Bill Rittner, who makes gorgeous Stanley and Veritas totes at a reasonable price. Now Rittner has launched a web site where he sells his totes and his version of a Moxon double-screw vise. The site is hardwarecitytools.com. Go there and bookmark it.

In the coming months, Rittner will start offering user-grade vintage tools for sale as well as tools that he has restored – he specializes in restoring saws.

As I’ve written here before, Rittner’s totes are excellent. He has really mastered the shape and feel of the old Stanley planes and they are beautifully finished. I bought a cherry set for my Veritas bevel-up jack plane and Rittner’s totes made a huge difference in how the tool feels.

— Christopher Schwarz

“Handplane Essentials” is Back in Stock
After being backordered for weeks, “Handplane Essentials” is back in stock at Shop Woodworking. In addition to the nice hardbound edition, the store also offers a digital version for instant download.