tote repair, minimalism? - Printable Version

tote repair, minimalism? - Printable Version

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tote repair, minimalism? - EricU - 12-26-2016

I have a number 5 with a horn that is busted off on a rosewood tote. I am thinking that I just want to replace the horn, not chop it down like most people do. Mostly because I don't want to have to fix the counterbore. Anyone do it this way?

I swear I have some rosewood scraps, but I'm not sure where.

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - Bill_Houghton - 12-26-2016

The problem, always, is that you need a good flat surface for gluing on your repair piece; and, if the break in the horn comes low enough to affect the counterbore, well, you're kinda stuck.

I had a jack plane this last year on which the previous owner, an engineer, had repaired a broken horn with J.B. Weld. Ugly as day old sin, but it was actually quite comfortable.

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - Admiral - 12-26-2016

Bill is right, flat surface on the tote and the repair piece is key. Disc sander works for me on the tote, and I plane the filler piece flat in a vice. I epoxy on the filler, cut to the general form of the horn on the bandsaw, then form to finished shape with a rasp. If it impacts the rod hole, I actually carve it out with a knife, which can be tedious but this has worked for me, I guess you could use a Dremel as well. I like to make the horn a bit longer, like the totes on earlier Stanley planes.

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - EricU - 12-26-2016

I've seen a couple of people that cut the tote down a ways in order to get below the counterbore. The theory being that you need the strength of the bolt holding the tote together. When I cut my tote flat, it still will not involve the counterbore

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - Bill_Houghton - 12-26-2016

Hard to imagine that a good glue job won't be adequate.

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - JimReed@Tallahassee - 12-27-2016

Totes can be problematic. The best solution I have found is to pick up a #5 donor.

But I did a tote rehab a co-worker's #6 a few years back. This plane belonged to his grandfather and his father so there was lots of sentimental value. One side of the horn was sheared off. I cut a lap joint on the tote, usingthe bandsaw and made an "L" shaped patch from rosewood. Titebond III works well for me on rosewood. I held the tote in a handscrew and sawed off the excess. Then I used the oscillating spindle sander to do the final shaping.

Long planes especially seem to have this missing tote horn issue. I guess they are prone to bench dives. Even though they can be used without it, I really appreciate the horn because it traps the web of my thumb and holds my hand in place.

Good luck fixing yours. As usual, we really enjoy pictures.

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - Downwindtracker2 - 12-27-2016

Rosewood because of it's oil content can be difficult to glue. The usual recommendation is G-2 epoxy after a wash of acetone. If memory serves me right, G-2 hardener is slightly acidic, cutting into the oil. System Three now makes G-2, I liked it better when Industrial Formulators made it. If the fit is less than perfect, add sawdust or minifibers.

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - Phil S. - 12-27-2016

Eric-

Steve has a blog entry covering that here.

Phil

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - Phil S. - 12-27-2016

Oh, yeah - and there's Dom's thread here.

RE: tote repair, minimalism? - EricU - 12-27-2016

Thanks for the responses. I don't remember where I got this plane, looks like it has a new iron and cap iron

IMAG0926 by unterhausen, on Flickr

IMAG0923 by unterhausen, on Flickr

IMAG0924 by unterhausen, on Flickr

IMAG0925 by unterhausen, on Flickr