Broken tote

[Big Ry]

I just got this Stanley 7c on eBay. It was delivered 20min ago, and the horn is snapped off the tote cause the seller is an idi0t and didn't remove the tote for shipping. I'm so irked. According to the charts, this is a type 11. I know that doesn't necessarily apply to a no. 7, but it has 3 patent dates and the smaller knob. But if anyone thinks otherwise, let me know.

The knob and tote look like they could be original dalbergia nigra, which if so I'm pretty annoyed by the lack of concern about them during shipping. The exposed wood looks rather dry for braz... Looks more like mahogany to me, but the spiderwebbing all around the outside and the obvious wear point to braz.

What say you? If these are cheap aftermarket totes, i won't be as irritated about the damage.

 

[daniscool]

I just got this Stanley 7c on eBay. It was delivered 20min ago, and the horn is snapped off the tote cause the seller is an idi0t and didn't remove the tote for shipping. I'm so irked. According to the charts, this is a type 11. I know that doesn't necessarily apply to a no. 7, but it has 3 patent dates and the smaller knob. But if anyone thinks otherwise, let me know.

The knob and tote look like they could be original dalbergia nigra, which if so I'm pretty annoyed by the lack of concern about them during shipping. The exposed wood looks rather dry for braz... Looks more like mahogany to me, but the spiderwebbing all around the outside and the obvious wear point to braz.

What say you? If these are cheap aftermarket totes, i won't be as irritated about the damage.

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Can you completely remove both the tote and knob and take pics that would help. Taking off the finish would be very beneficial too. You can repair the damage with some Cocobolo. Or you can make your own tote and knob. Very different feeling. From your description it does sound like a type 11.

Cool stuff though I would be pissed at the seller for managing that.

 

[rob3232]

I understand your frustration! I would just glue the wood back together and move on. Or you could start a process that will require a lot of time and effort for little satisfaction. I am assuming that you ordered it as a user and not a collector item? Still sucks either way.

 

[woodtickgreg]

Yes I agree with just epoxying it back together and using it. In the mean time you could contact the seller to see if he might have another tote to send you. And a third option is to just make a new tote. It's really not that hard to do and you can use the original as a pattern once you glue it back together.

 

[Big Ry]

Can you completely remove both the tote and knob and take pics that would help. Taking off the finish would be very beneficial too. You can repair the damage with some Cocobolo. Or you can make your own tote and knob. Very different feeling. From your description it does sound like a type 11.

Cool stuff though I would be pissed at the seller for managing that.

I dont have time to sand them down, but i hit them with zep degreaser and simple green, and that actually seemed to take off most of the finish. So I'm guessing it was shellac on them. I'm now very certain the knob is Brazilian rosewood. It smells exactly like it... Sweet chocolate cherry scent. The tote is harder to smell and the color is quite a bit more orange, but i scraped the bottom with a knife and it's kind of waxy like Brazilian rosewood, so maybe that too is braz.

Got better pictures after cleaning and with better lighting and magnification.

 

[Big Ry]

I understand your frustration! I would just glue the wood back together and move on. Or you could start a process that will require a lot of time and effort for little satisfaction. I am assuming that you ordered it as a user and not a collector item? Still sucks either way.

Unfortunately there are a number of little slivers that broke off that are unaccounted for. So i could glue it, but I'd need filler, and it would look like garbage. I bought this to use not collect. I don't care about replacing it, but i wanted the original intact rosewood tote for resale.

 

[Big Ry]

Yes I agree with just epoxying it back together and using it. In the mean time you could contact the seller to see if he might have another tote to send you. And a third option is to just make a new tote. It's really not that hard to do and you can use the original as a pattern once you glue it back together.

I did contact them. No word yet. I kinda doubt he's got spares considering how poorly he packaged this one. Its like he wrapped it in butcher paper like it was a steak, except instead of butcher paper it was thin cardboard. He just rolled the whole thing up in cardboard and taped it. He did at least remove the iron, but somehow didn't think to remove the tote.

I will have to make a new one, but I'm still bummed about this original tote being broken. There's no replacing the original.

 

[daniscool]

I did contact them. No word yet. I kinda doubt he's got spares considering how poorly he packaged this one. Its like he wrapped it in butcher paper like it was a steak, except instead of butcher paper it was thin cardboard. He just rolled the whole thing up in cardboard and taped it. He did at least remove the iron, but somehow didn't think to remove the tote.

I will have to make a new one, but I'm still bummed about this original tote being broken. There's no replacing the original.

When making your own tote you can really spend in expensive wood. I have the philosophy that the only people who really appreciate rare woods are the ones who work them. Maybe it’s an excuse to buy some rare wood to make the tote. Maybe some of that bois de rose from gilmer.

 

[Big Ry]

When making your own tote you can really spend in expensive wood. I have the philosophy that the only people who really appreciate rare woods are the ones who work them. Maybe it’s an excuse to buy some rare wood to make the tote. Maybe some of that bois de rose from gilmer.

I have all kinds of expensive and rare wood to choose from. I even have plenty of dalbergia nigra at this point, so i could remake them with the proper species. Though i would most likely make it with lignum for the hand feel.

I do think it will be a challenge to shape the tote correctly considering i have to align a hole bored all the way through it at an angle. Id also want to make the tote larger than normal if making my own, since i have gigantic hands. The stock totes are really tiny for me. I'm undecided if i want to go through the hassle of trying to remake the tote or just see if i can find a matching piece of dalbergia for a repair.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

I have all kinds of expensive and rare wood to choose from. I even have plenty of dalbergia nigra at this point, so i could remake them with the proper species. Though i would most likely make it with lignum for the hand feel.

I do think it will be a challenge to shape the tote correctly considering i have to align a hole bored all the way through it at an angle. Id also want to make the tote larger than normal if making my own, since i have gigantic hands. The stock totes are really tiny for me. I'm undecided if i want to go through the hassle of trying to remake the tote or just see if i can find a matching piece of dalbergia for a repair.

How about both . Start by repairing the tote and see how that goes. Then drill the hole before you shape the angle. Or you can make a cradle to hold the handle at the proper angle with a little piece of angled scrap stuck on top to start the bit in a flat surface.

 

[Big Ry]

How about both . Start by repairing the tote and see how that goes. Then drill the hole before you shape the angle. Or you can make a cradle to hold the handle at the proper angle with a little piece of angled scrap stuck on top to start the bit in a flat surface.

That's probably exactly what I'll do - try to repair first then go from there

 

[daniscool]

I have all kinds of expensive and rare wood to choose from. I even have plenty of dalbergia nigra at this point, so i could remake them with the proper species. Though i would most likely make it with lignum for the hand feel.

I do think it will be a challenge to shape the tote correctly considering i have to align a hole bored all the way through it at an angle. Id also want to make the tote larger than normal if making my own, since i have gigantic hands. The stock totes are really tiny for me. I'm undecided if i want to go through the hassle of trying to remake the tote or just see if i can find a matching piece of dalbergia for a repair.

If you are going to make your own tote and the design differs from the original, you should make some test totes from cheaper wood before committing to expensive stuff.

 

[Sprung]

https://assets.leevalley.com/Original/10090/56664-stanley-number-5-and-up-plane-tote-c-06-e.pdf

If you haven't come across that, or something like it, yet, that would be extremely helpful in creating a new tote. Gives you measurements and everything. And allows you to drill the hole before cutting and shaping so it all is lined up just right. And if you want something bigger for your bigger hands (as a guy with rather large hands myself, I completely understand!), you could always start with the template to get your holes drilled and general sizing/layout and then shape to suit you. I'd still do as Daniel recommended and make a test tote or two in less expensive wood first.

 

[SENC]

I have all kinds of expensive and rare wood to choose from. I even have plenty of dalbergia nigra at this point, so i could remake them with the proper species. Though i would most likely make it with lignum for the hand feel.

I do think it will be a challenge to shape the tote correctly considering i have to align a hole bored all the way through it at an angle. Id also want to make the tote larger than normal if making my own, since i have gigantic hands. The stock totes are really tiny for me. I'm undecided if i want to go through the hassle of trying to remake the tote or just see if i can find a matching piece of dalbergia for a repair.

 

[JonathanH]

Search the Utube for Dave Corinth videos on tote making. He has severely that go into great detail on reproducing the tote. He has made a jig for drilling the holes and provides the details for that as well.