I've noticed that some wooden hand planes, like the Krenov-style, don't have a rear tote or knob. What's the reason for this design choice? Is it about ergonomics, or is there another reason? Also, I've seen wooden planes with a rear tote but no knob. If the knob isn't necessary, why don't metal hand planes adopt a bulkier wooden grip similar to those seen in infill planes?
3 Answers
Interesting you brought that up! I’m planning to make my own wooden plane and noticed similar trends. It seems that older wooden planes often sport a closed tote, like a saw handle, particularly for foreplanes and jointers, while shorter planes like jack planes frequently have an open tote. All this raises questions about the reasoning behind these design choices. Any thoughts on why this might be?
Here's an interesting look at typical bench planes: https://preview.redd.it/x9azydu76paf1.png?width=3605&format=png&auto=webp&s=e9a17555ff46d90294d7cf27f33b08625c0ab1c5
I really love my smoother planes made from a single block of wood. They're compact, allowing for one-handed or two-handed use, especially for fine finishing. For stock removal, the ECE 711 is a fantastic production plane, though it's tricky to master. It has a rear-mounted saddle instead of a handle, which works well but isn't very popular.
Check out this review of the ECE 711 for more info: http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/ECE_711/ECE_711_Review.html
Krenov's planes were designed for quick production, focusing on utility over aesthetics. His planes often have a shorter heel with a downward arc that effectively directs force from the rear hand to where the blade contacts the wood. Other planes with totes use a different angle to achieve a similar effect while keeping the design minimal. Ultimately, it comes down to personal comfort and preferences in how folks push or pull the tool across the wood, resulting in different ergonomic styles.
For sure! Jack planes often lack the length for a full-sized handle, which explains the design variations. Larger planes have closed handles, which might withstand stress better from lifting, though I’m still unsure. I’d think an open handle would look awkward on bigger planes, too.