handplane materials

Anyone know where I can get a blank of paulownia for a DIY handplane approx 17"x 8"x3/4"? willing to spring for parcel postage etc if reasonable cost of raw materials. If not it'll have to be a pine job but not sure if weight bit too much to swim out with,only used a POD placcy thing before which weighs nothing,any thoughts from anyone?. mart

Hi Mart

Paulowina is a bugger to get hold of in the uk, I know that there is a bloke in Cornwall selling some, but for a hand plane try obeece or western red cedar. The other timber I've used is pine reclaimed from pallets, look for wide growth rings from a fast growing tree and that will make it lighter.

Cheers Joe

Get down to your local skatepark and ran a broken deck Mart. You want one that has snapped tail/noseward of the truck holes. Recycling, light and the concave is already done for ya.



G

Thanks G was getting to that way of thinking having seen the korduroy tv video, so unfortunately for the neighbouring kids who seem to have shot up and dont use the old skateboard i gave them a few years ago. I managed to retrieve said board and yep got the plan cut out roughly based upon a brown fish el gigante with a single concave stripped back to the ply but will be painting as deck wood ugh finish and side rails etc left holes to be plugged.Will let you know what happens when all finished and tried out.mart

Here's the one I made.



Piskian's got it now. More pics on the ebay page:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230666362111#ht_560wt_1185

Cheers

G

and it`s terrific!I`m the weakest swimmer and the worst bodysurfer around,but it pulled me into everything going the other day.I had a Hydrotech Pro handplane,good for swimming but no pull.Gave ti to Peru.who`s a Thorpedo!

Joe do they make euro pallets from obeece? If so how do you recognise it?