Due to workshop limitations, Woodworking is something I hadn't really been able to try out. For my senior project, I spend several days working with John Hartman, friend of my grandfather and a retired piano repairman and professional woodworker, building this planer. In the process, I learned various modern and traditional techniques like using card scrapers, planers, spoke shavers, bandsaws, table saws, and jointers. We also talked about setting up jigs for reproduction of designs, drafting techniques, and began to practice joinery. In the coming weeks and months, I'll be returning to the shop to help out and work on more projects!

The design of the planer itself is based off the book by James Krenov, who popularized the hobbyist art of handmaking planers. It works just as well as a standard metal plane, with the exception of needing to be adjusted by gentile hammer taps rather than various knobs. The wooden body also allows for more custom fitting to the user and can be more comfortable to use over longer periods and for less ideal cutting angles.