Gathering of the Clan

I bought my planing forms.

There is a tutorial on the internet that tells you how to make your own forms. It is a lot of work. Access to some metal working machinery would help....or even better, a machinist with the necessary tooling.
Even with that, you really need to know what you are after. The machining has to be quite precise from flattening and squaring the bars, down to cutting the tapered grooves.

I could have made a set with the help of a co-worker who has a pretty impressive machine shop.
But in the end, I don't think I would have been satisfied with the end result. I'm pretty anal about that sort of thing.

I decided to buy planing forms from Bellinger. After doing my homework, I decided that the Bellinger swelled butt planing forms were the ones that I wanted. They weren't cheap but I could justify the cost by the features, precision, and attention to detail that those forms have.

I've read several articles on making them and I have always felt they undersold the effort involved in making a good set. Had I ever decided to take the plunge, I think I would have gone the same route you did.

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"Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire..." Exodus 12:9

Brian, your work is really impressive. BTW, the Kushner you built is my favorite rod.

John

Beautiful work, Brian, you have become a true craftsman! YPJ