On 20 Mar, 2006, at 10:24 AM, Scott Matthews wrote:

> First of all since that seems to be the custom, I'd like to introduce
> myself.
>
Welcome, Scott. Sounds like you have some great projects lined up. Good 
luck with them; I'm sure you'll find the porch a most useful resource.

> Question #1:
>  What should I do to keep the planes, especially the hollowing
> blade, centered and not drift off the edge?

Surely there's a standard proven method - if so, the answer will be 
forthcoming from someone soon. But just in case it's not, I thought you 
might try a setup like a sticking board. This is a simple jig that sash 
makers use to plane the profiles in muntins. It is well illustrated in 
Roy Underhill's second book, The Woodwright's Companion. What? You say 
you don't have this book? Are you nuts?! It is now published with the 
first book as a single volume, The Woodwright's shop. If you are 
looking for it online, make sure you are getting a volume of about 380 
pages - then you'll know it has both 190-page books.

Anyway, a sticking board is a long board you clamp on your benchtop 
along the front edge. It has a rabbet which holds the strip of stock to 
be planed, and supports it against flexing. Additionally, the back edge 
of the rabbet stands proud of the strip of work, so that the plane has 
a little fence to run along. There is a stop at one end of the board 
(usually a small flat-head screw) which keeps the strip from scooting 
away. I have no idea if this is what was normally used, but I bet it 
would work nicely.

Regards,
Greg T.

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