> I can't remember if I posted this picture or not, but the strips that are
> giving me grief are the ones between the light bilge strip and the keel.
> You can see that the grain pattern is very evident in those strips, but
> hardly noticeable in the strips from the bilge to the sheer (those are
> vertical grained). Like I mentioned in an earlier post, not all the
> flat-sawn strips are giving me problems, and in fact, I used quite a bit
> on the Guillemot. I think that I just got my hands on a particularly
> troublesome plank this time.

> I did try the belt sander, but I quickly chickened-out. I just couldn't
> get a good feel for how much was being removed. I applaud those who can
> use one successfully; you've got heuvos.

> Ross

Nice pic Ross. I know yer having probs but how did you keep the grain so integral? Maybe another smoothing idea would be to take a wide (6-8")thin scraper, curve it, and cut on the diagonal. Maybe it would at least take the high spots. Or what about Shawn and Hanks plaster idea and make real quick custom form sanding block (say 4" x 10") to fit the general shape of this area. Spay glue some 100 grit and maybe this'll just get the highs.

The grain you've got is really striking.

-mike