thanks to Mr. Phillips

General Discussion
1

I wanted to put this thread on because i read a archive about trueing up blanks and clean lines all over the board. I have done only 25 boards so far but at number 8 i realized how right Jim is about the planer. It is impossible to get a accurate board from a sanding block and a surform, it will work and look clean to the unknowing, but it is personal goals as to what you want from your work. It is very hard to do what jim does with that planer , damn its hard .I am forcing myself to deal with the new approach and it has made my boards so much smoother. I use the power planer for everything except my rail bands at my nose on my shortboards to much risk(im getting closer everytime), and i dont use it for my tucked under edge, i use a hand planer on my outline(only using the pencil as my idea) lettting the planer find the true curve on its own. I also have stopped only using 12" nose,tail,width measurments Im using every six inches now cause i was finding that my curves where not flowing enough(causes hips i think). It is a good feeling to grow away from my SURFORM and working with my planer, now the next step is to grow out of my crappy planer. In Gods hands nothing is impossible.

                                                                                                                       still a gremmie and out of control 

                                                                                                                                                 Trevor
2

I’ve always considered shaping as an art form, not an engineering excercise counting planer and sander strokes.

Some guys like planers, some guys don’t.

Some guys use lots of sand paper, others don’t.

Main thing is checking the shape for what you want, and that is done by hand, by eye, by precise measurements taken by calipers, by whatever…

Counting passes and strokes is for engineers, and they should do what they do best.

3

Until ya got a couple hundred under your belt, you might want to keep the templates, tape measure, square and level handy. Nothing says “professional” more than a twisted bottom or scalloped outline :wink:

4

Good call LeeV. As a furniture maker first and a balsa board maker second, I see shaping boards as simply an extension of my wood crafting, functional sculpture. To me it’s more art than science or engineering. I use “feel”, “touch”, whatever to get what I want accomplished, BUT, I’m an addict about doing things precise and right which is why I always depend upon precise measures, cuts, etc. It’s all about art and crafting, but you can also tell a lot about the craftsman by the tools he keeps. From what little I know personally about professor Phillips, he is a craftsman and an artist, but he also looks at the use of tools and precision with the same sense. Assume that’s where you fall as well. Enjoy the ride!

Richard