I found a Makita KP0810 for sale for $100. Looks to be a good one.I have a power planer that I have used when shaping the rudder and tiller I made. If you don't have one yet, try looking at a pawn shop or CL for one. A project is always a good time to get a new toy. Power planers are great for this sort of job. I have this one
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It is like "connect the dots". Your power planer does a good job of planing a straight line and the grooves give you a start and finish point.I have made a template from a plywood scrap and traced that on the bottom edge. Interesting idea re; the grooves. I will noodle on that a bit.
YEP!... That is when it occured to me that I had made a mistake......which fits inside the metal bracket.
Thanks - I will be careful with the planer.Very nice. Go easy on the power planer, they can remove a lot of wood fast. If you are doing the "grooves", aka kerfs, do not go down to your finished size, leave it a bit large because you will have to smooth it out some more when you get down to your kerfs. It might be simpler just to use the template.
If you've done a lot of hand planning, you are going to love the power planer, it's like shaving warm butter.Thanks - I will be careful with the planer.
It will be quoted with a penetrating epoxy sealer from Jamestown. Not too difficult to make. Lots of good advice from this forum.Looking good...... You might have established a side gig..
It looks like the tip of the blade is rather sharp. I suspect that will get banged up fairly quick if (when) you kiss the bottom. But that can be sanded out later when needed.