I followed the steps outlined in David Marks’ European Hand Plane episode. I had to use my table saw to cut the cheeks and the two angles on the body. Then I used the jigsaw to cut the curve. Unfortunately the blade deflected during the cut, so it took a lot of filing and sanding to get it back to semi-true.

Next I need to drill the holes for the dowel, and cut the shim. Then I’ll cut the body to length, and then shape the body (without a band saw this will be minimal).

I still don’t know what this wood is. It is very heavy, and has streaks of harder grain and softer grain. This makes it very hard to joint, plane, scrape and sand. I don’t think this was the best choice of wood for a hand plane, but I plan on building another one once I get a band saw.

I bought a Hock iron at Hardwick's Hardware—it was their last one, the display model. This seemed like a good project excuse to get a new tool, so I went to Rockler to look at jig saws. They don’t have any (aside from the $300 Festools), but I did find a good piece of wood. It was in the “oversize” turning blanks section, without a tag. I have no idea what wood it is, but it is very very heavy.

So here’s the wood before I start working with it. I scraped the wax off and jointed the faces and sides…

The two widest logs we milled into 10/4 slabs, the rest we milled closer to 5/4 planks. The 10/4 is ear-marked for a friend of mine who will use it to make electric guitar bodies. The rest? I’ll figure that out when it is dry and as the need arises.

It was a great day—I had a good chance to get to know Ananda, I learned a bit about chainsaw milling, and my wife and I really enjoyed hitting the pub with the Dorje’s after.

Sunday I spent a few hours moving and stacking the lumber. Great workout, but now I’m pooped! So, in about a year I’ll be looking to get a bandsaw, so I can take full advantage of the alder!

Sorry I don’t have any pictures of the process—I seem to have misplaced my camera.

During the cleanup of their yard, a rather sketchy “tree service” indicated a couple cedars were threatening our house. I didn’t trust the guy, but I did trust the arborist that came out a week later and said the cedars were fine but that an old 80 foot alder was a real danger.

They came out a few months ago and cut down the majority of the tree. I had them cut the main trunk into 8-foot segments, with the idea that I’d be able to rent a mobile band saw mill and get some good furniture lumber from it.

I couldn’t find a mobile band saw mill, but I did find LumberJock Dorje! He is willing to help me get this stuff cut, with his chain saw and milling attachment. I will document the process with text and images (once I take some) here.

You guys have no idea how stoked I am that this site exists, and brings a community of woodworkers together.