: Calling all master woodsman,
: I am needing a bench planer but do not have one or the money for
: one. So what alternatives are there? My project is wooden XC
: skis which will require a hardwood sandwich of 1/8 inch thick
: plys.
: Would a power hand planer work? Another thought for me is a drill
: press acting as a drum sander with a fence. I do not have either
: one of these but am willing to spend 150 dollars towards a new
: tool (less would be better). I do have the basics, table saw,
: miter saw, router (but no table).
: Please educate me on what I can do and what I might need for it.
: thanks,
: Scott
Scott-
I'd forget about using a planer for any stock that thin - most thickness planers will 'explode' strips (veneers) that are flexible enough to vibrate between the pressure rollers. (been there, done that...)

I'm assuming your strips will be 3" or less wide...
Also assuming you will be using epoxy for laminating.....

With a good blade, you could probably rip/resaw glue-ready strips with your table saw, though a good bandsaw resaw setup would be safer and more reliable, IMO.

If you need to thickness sawn veneers, the drum sander and fence on the drill press would do the job. You need to build a decent fence but some thought and a few plywood scraps will do that job.
Another possibility that works well is a Saf-T-Planer in the drill press, with proper hold-downs for the stock.
The Saf-T Planer is a great tool (about $50 or so- get the real USA made version, not a knock-off). Lots of guitar builders use them for thicknessing stock and also for working necks and pegheads to thickness. If you check around the guitar-building forums/websites you should find plenty of info.

I've used all the methods above, and they should all work for you. I've got a pretty good shop, and I'd use the resaw bandsaw and the abrasive thicknesser to do the job these days. If you look for a cabinet shop to do the job, that's what you should ask them for, IMO.

XC skis- a real 'old-school' project! (You're not sneaking in any carbon fiber there?)

John