This is my 'planer/thicknesser' :-) Plane maker David Barron suggested the design, the plane rides on two waxed runners at the edges of the plane and outside the reach of the blade. The wood is roughed down to approx thickness and then is placed between the runners. It is then planned down until the blade is no longer in contact with the wood. The resulting pieces are 5/16" thick. I can process planks up to 18" long and 2" wide. I have joined 2 together to make wider planks. I am planning to use these to make little boxes and cabinets. The wood is Rhododendron - I picked some off-cuts up in our local wood.
I fancied a bit of rustic woodwork over the weekend, so I made a couple of mallets out of a piece of rhododendron I picked up while I was walking home from work a few weeks ago. The handles are made from an off-cut of pine. My first attempt had the head fixed at a funny angle! I tried telling my son Chris that it was ergonomically designed but I don't think he believed me!!! He kept it anyway, so I made myself one which I took more care with drilling the hole in the head. I am surprised how handy it is and how often I pick it up to give things a clunk! :-)
I spotted these very unusual curled formations on the same tree trunk while I was out walking yesterday. I guess they would be pretty spectacular if they were planed and incorporated into a project. I have no idea what the tree is. There is just an 8' trunk left standing now.
