: Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the use of electric planes on strip
: built kayaks, do they have a role in fairing off or are they too
: cumbersome
: cheers

I'd use it on the strips, but not on the boat.

I think a power plane can be used as a very inexpensive replacement for a surface plane just by making a simple jig. Using this you will get your strips to all be nearly identical in thickness before they are installed over the forms. If you are making beads and coves, then the parts will mill more accurately, too.

Regardless of the edge treatment (plain, beveled, bead&ove) the consistency of the strip thickness will reduce your time in fairing and sanding.

Now a surface or thickness planer will do this too, maybe a little better and easier, but at a much higher cost.

All you need to do is make a jig for planing your strips to an even thickness. Start with a smooth board, or a section of plywood, particle board, masonite, etc. and nail or screw onto that two strips of wood which are the exact thickness you want your strips to be. Place these two strips about 2 inches apart. Now set your electic planer on these strips, and tie it down with a strap or bungie cord. Or, make a wood or metal bracket which you can attach to your work surface and also to the prethreaded holes for auxiliary handles which are on the plane.

Turn the plane on and feed your strips through.

If you have been very erratic in ripping your strips, you may want to make several sets of spacers, with one set being a bit thicker than another. The hand-held electric planes can not take off a lot of material on each pass, so strips that are thicker than yor specifications may need to be thinned down to size by repeatedly planing them. Machine your strips by passing them through a series of two or three times, each time bringing them closer to the exact size you want them.

If you flip the strips after each pass you'll remove high spots on both sides of the strips and end up with some really beautifully even strips.

And then you can put the power planer away while you do the rest of your assembly work on the boat. Using it for fairing is overkill, particularly since you won't have a lot to fair since your strips will be so evenly sized.

Just some thoughts

PGJ