Ideal Dimensions of a hand plane front knob

Pics of the knobs, as I realized I didn’t attach them!

Tigerwood

Mesquite

Another view of Mesquite with the Purpleheart in the background

have you noticed the similarity in design for front knobs to trailer hitch balls?

-- "I build for function first, looks second. Most times I never get around to looks." MIke in CO

Actually, which ever style/size fit YOUR hand best. And, HOW you grip the knob, too….

For a long time..Rosewood was the preferred wood for plane handles….

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use

have you noticed the similarity in design for front knobs to trailer hitch balls?

- BlasterStumps

Mind Blown. [insert imagined gif here]

Also, I have my next silly project: decorative wood 2” hitch trailer ball.

have you noticed the similarity in design for front knobs to trailer hitch balls?

- BlasterStumps

I’m gonna mount a hitch ball to one, maybe the extra weight will help. Hitch it up to a remote control truck and I can remotely plane surfaces while watching tv.

Actually, which ever style/size fit YOUR hand best. And, HOW you grip the knob, too….

For a long time..Rosewood was the preferred wood for plane handles….

- bandit571

This is essentially where I was coming from. What I have found to be comfortable. The only deviation from norm that I guess I was addressing was the extended height. None of the other hand-toolery I know have delved into this customization, and figured it would possibly spark some thought.

have you noticed the similarity in design for front knobs to trailer hitch balls?

- BlasterStumps

I’m gonna mount a hitch ball to one, maybe the extra weight will help. Hitch it up to a remote control truck and I can remotely plane surfaces while watching tv.

- SMP

Don’t forget to put a motor on that will fetch you a beer while you watch the tube. Don’t wanna be missing any content doing tasks. Remember pouring a glass of wine, requires more functions, beer is a good choice here.

-- Think safe, be safe

Actually, which ever style/size fit YOUR hand best. And, HOW you grip the knob, too….

For a long time..Rosewood was the preferred wood for plane handles….

- bandit571

Most pertinent response so far. Its what the user likes, period. Keep the old ones in case you sell the planes. All of my 15 or so bench planes, Stanley, Fulton, and new LV planes, have custom knobs and totes made to my design by me. The tote designs are available in my blog – marked up drawings from LV.

For knobs I made prototypes based on some of the handplanes I had at the time and pics of various designs. My choice for most all the planes is a taller mushroom profile, because I use the knob to push down and pull up, and steer. The tote provides motive force, not the knob. I have larger hands and the taller profile gives more room. Dont have measurements of them, but you can see a couple of them here in my blog that has the tote dwgs. All of mine are made with walnut, most are claro walnut, but any decent hardness hardwood, including soft maple, with tight grain will work. Dont recommend open grain like oak or ash – hard on the palms.

My hand is only slightly bigger, I too like a 2” ball, for heavier work 2 5/16” works a bit better.

-- “I never in my life thought I would have to say this, but the proper role of government is not to fund the distribution of crack pipes,” Lauren Boebert

Most pertinent response so far. Its what the user likes, period. Keep the old ones in case you sell the planes. All of my 15 or so bench planes, Stanley, Fulton, and new LV planes, have custom knobs and totes made to my design by me. The tote designs are available in my blog – marked up drawings from LV.

For knobs I made prototypes based on some of the handplanes I had at the time and pics of various designs. My choice for most all the planes is a taller mushroom profile, because I use the knob to push down and pull up, and steer. The tote provides motive force, not the knob. I have larger hands and the taller profile gives more room. Dont have measurements of them, but you can see a couple of them here in my blog that has the tote dwgs. All of mine are made with walnut, most are claro walnut, but any decent hardness hardwood, including soft maple, with tight grain will work. Dont recommend open grain like oak or ash – hard on the palms.

- OSU55

I love it. My next profile will most definitely incorporate a stronger mushroom top for my 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 sizes.

My hand is only slightly bigger, I too like a 2” ball, for heavier work 2 5/16” works a bit better.

- bigblockyeti

I love this too. Frankly I am even more excited for my next run of front knobs, and excuses to turn more shavings.

Mikey-

Probably the hardest thing on the hands is the unchanging shape of tool handles and knobs. What we really need is a knob that can adapt to our grip – expanding or contracting as needed, or even taking on a random, lumpy shape.

-- You know, this site doesn't require woodworking skills, but you should know how to write.

I’m restoring a couple of planes and I’m making the knobs out of figured black walnut. I’m making them bigger than the originals to fit my big, faat hands. i’m also making the totes bigger—as big as i can make them and still fit under the cam levers, so I can get my fat fingers around them.

-- Unix programmers never die; they just > /dev/null

Why a knob?
German wooden planes have a kind of horn.

-- Sylvain, Brussels, Belgium, Europe - The more I learn, the more there is to learn (and that is nice)

Why a knob?
German wooden planes have a kind of horn.

- Sylvain

I imagine that comes in handy if you run into traffic while you’re planing. Beep-beep!

-- Unix programmers never die; they just > /dev/null

funny.

I was referring to this

-- Sylvain, Brussels, Belgium, Europe - The more I learn, the more there is to learn (and that is nice)