The tote is the curved, vertical handle located at the back of a bench plane. It is ergonomically shaped to fit the user's dominant hand, providing the primary pushing force and directional control during planing. Totes are typically carved from hard, durable woods like rosewood or beech and are secured to the plane body with a threaded brass rod.
Heard on the job
I dropped my number four bench plane and cracked the tote right down the middle.