: Useing 3/16th instead of 1/4 in stock. This sounds good and it should cut
: some down weight some but this will be my first stick built. Will 1/4 in
: stock be that much more forgiving when it comes down to working with the
: block planer and random orbit sander?

The only reason to use a block plane on a stripper is to level an area
where you can't align strip edges. Many people find they have difficulty aligning
the edges using 1/4" strips and force alone.

If you use 3/16" strips and the techniques I suggest on my "Shop Tips' page
you will not need to level any edges because you will not have any problem
aligning strip edges.

The whole point of strip building theory is to use the natural qualities of the
materials, in this case the thin wood strips, to create a perfect surface for you.

Just as in stitch-and-glue boat building, you use the nature of a plywood panel
to create the surface, strip building does the same thing on a narrower scale.

Can you imagine what would happen if you planed the surface of a stitch-and-glue
panel? You would cut through the top veneer and destroy a perfect fair surface.

The same thing will happen on a aligned edged stripper. Any random cuts
with a block plane or other aggressive surfacing tool will be counterproductive

If you take the time to align your strips and ensure they remain in contact with
your stations and stem forms the result will be a perfect fair surface. All you need do
is to smooth surface with a random orbital sander. The beauty of the ROS is that it will
ride on the high points of the strips joints and level them into a fair perpendicular curve
to the already perfect fair surfaces along the strips lengths.

Forget the planing business!

The more you understand how the materials work to create the perfect surface the less
work you need to do.

The more you fuss over the surface the more steps you add to the process will only
increase random irregulaties inot the surface and make your boat look bad.

All the best,
Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.laughingloon.com