molding plane

[greg Forster]

I have access to some "close-to QS" yellow birch and am wondering is there an "ideal" growth rings per inch?; are too tight of growth rings as bad as too few?

[David Weaver]

Any will be fine, don't worry about the ring count unless you're making planes to sell - you'll never use the planes enough to wear them out. If you can get QS wood good for planes, you're ahead to begin with.

[greg Forster]

If I obtain some plane making stock no "worse" than my drawing, would it work okay for thinner 3/8"-1", molding planes or would it likely warp?
Trying not to be too O/C on this, but don't want to waste time and money and I just don't know how perfect QS stock needs to be.


182748

[Russell Sansom]

Great question, Greg.

[David Weaver]

Greg - if it's dry, it should be fine. You can fine tune them over time, anyway.

I recall reading somewhere that it's more critical for the big long planes bench planes to be quartersawn. I don't know if larry said that, or if I saw it in a WPINCA book.

it has taken me a long time to amass a nice pile of wood good for moulding planes. Most of it, i have paid $10 a bd foot for, but it is all 8/4+.

If the price is reasonable, I would get wood that is as you pictured and better, especially if it's dry or you have the time to let it dry.

[john brenton]

The grain I have on my molders aren't guitar top tight...but they are fairly tight, with the tightest grain being at the sole.