: 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 think the drill press sander with drum sander and fence is an excellent idea, and I personaly have added a drum sander to my shopping list. In the meantime for narrow stuff like strips and mast staves I use my bench router as a thickness planer: it handles about 1" width and I use it to put a finish on the inside surface of strips and gunnels, leaving the outside to be sanded later. It also reduces them to final thickness - I usually rip them about 1/64 over-size. It won't meet your needs but I thought I'd mention it for smaller work.

Terry