> I thought for the underside of the top, what he might need is one of those
convex bottomed luthier planes with the palm-knob, but I’m no luthier. I’m going
to obtain one for him if further research indicates that’s the way to go.
So Mathew
   He's going to carve an archtop instrument and wonders if a plane is 
going to be ready to go out of the box?
   Have to say it, the plane is not the hardest part of carving an archtop.

Of course the little ones can be made to work!   I made a pair of them 
work. Making a brass plane work is pretty straightforward, even if its a 
rough casting, which they aren't.
HSS for blades is standard in the Chinese plane industry.  Its hard 
steel, hard as a whores heart,  but its good enough.  You can make it work.

There are new more glamorous ones around for about $40.
  ---Really-- cute styling.
I am saving up my own money.  lol
    yours Scott


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    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
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