New blade

nice picture/macro
your signature says mc1. is the photo really showing that blade?

what tool do you use to cut thin layers of wood? do you just buy veneer?

I thought a planer was taking wood OFF a bigger piece of wood (to make it from 10mm to 9mm for example).
Oh man! this is really cool.
Where do you buy the wood and what glue do you use to stick the plies together?
don't feel pressed to give away your secrets! it's ok if you keep them :)

I have a planer that I bought used on craigslist and a band saw bought from the same guy who coached me into using his machines for 2 hours (I did not ask; I just could not stop him him from telling me how to use and maintain his/my tools). After the coaching he said "I play ping pong with my neighbors every week I want a blade from you"
"I know what you plan was" I said.
The band saw is super; the planer is bit too industrial I think even if portable. They are both $400 tools if you buy them new and he gave me both of them for $100 and he added 7 replacement blades for the band saw only after I promised I'd make a blade for him.
Funny retired guy. I saw this day the highest grade of humanity in Washington state!
I was about to start a class at my daughter's school (24 kids on 4 tables) and I had bought many rubbers from eacheng (24 when I needed less than that) and I put 2 of them on his blade that he found too fast and spinny of course.
The sure thing is he was happy I kept my word.
One ply spruce 92 grams blade with cheap and spinny 729 rubber? man you can't beat it!
I wish he never tells me he went back to his old blade to avoid more teasing from his buddies.
mmmh (?) I should have followed through and ask him. He should have too.
I do 1 ply only right now.
Spruce is cheap but I have gathered here and there that Western Red cedar is even cheaper and at least as good for that matter (no pun intended).

with your photo (video?!?!?) skills you will soon post a 5-ply blade making from start to finish.
I'll help you with the editing with free to use movie editing software (although I think you will not need me as I had your camera once and I had no idea I could do nice pics like those you posted above).
The pain is to make a decent interesting movie with 5 dozens clips so no matter the skills one will often says "maybe next time".

THEMANFZ1 wrote: POC or port orford cedar is the next best thing to Hinoki.�

It sure is:

zerowings007 wrote: Hello THEMANFZ1, I want to change the top layer of my blade. What kind of planter that you used to make a thin veneer ? How thin can it get ? what make and model # ? Do you have the name and address of your local wood distributor ? thanks for your help.

I would not recommend planing your blade due to the fact that it has already been laminated and the glue could chip the planer blades not to mention the probability that you will have tear out.  Your best bet would be to sand off the top layer of wood and glue on a drum sander like this one http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Baby-Drum-Sander/G0459
I noticed that you are in canada you have a store there called Lee Valley here is the link to their site  http://www.leevalley.com/home.aspx  They are located all over Canada they might sand it for you for a fee or may be able to direct you to a local woodworker that could do it for you if you do not have the equipment.  The drum sander works much like a planer except it uses a sanding belt instead of cutter blades to take off the wood. Careful however the glue will gum up the sanding belt on the sander so don't be surprised if they do not want to sand it down to the glue for that reason.  Lee valley also is a source that you could use to get veneers to build your blade.

I don't think he carries the POC not sure about the spruce.  Another option is yellow alaskan cedar.

I am making another one.  I stained the grips last night and will do the cut out and gluing up tonight maybe even a coat or two of seal.  The grips on this one are birch not tiger wood so not as dramatic in appearance.  I will post pics later.

two layers of 1/32in balsa, a center core of 1/64in. baltic birch, and 3/32in birch on the outer plys with a birch grips.  The birch is still pretty dense so I am not sure if it will be any lighter than the one pictured above with the tiger wood grips, it was 93grams.  The grips on the above pictured blade are thick 1 1/4 inch wide, so that added weight.  The one I am currently making will have a 1in straight grip and should be lighter.  I was contemplating making the grips out of cork, like american hinoki above has, but I decided to go with birch on this go around.  I'm still working on getting the grip shape just right.