: Another possibility that works well is a Saf-T-Planer in the drill
: press, with proper hold-downs for the stock.
: The Saf-T Planer is a great tool (about $50 or so- get the real USA
: made version, not a knock-off). Lots of guitar builders use them
: for thicknessing stock and also for working necks and pegheads
: to thickness. If you check around the guitar-building
: forums/websites you should find plenty of info.

: XC skis- a real 'old-school' project! (You're not sneaking in any
: carbon fiber there?)

The Safe-T Planer looks nice but it also looks extinct. So the knock off is all there is now. I'll have to look very seriously at it.
Old school... that's what makes it nice. No carbon fiber or fiber glass on the first pair at least. I'd love to get a wax-less base but that appears to be quite hard to find. I'm also making some snow shoes from a tree that is currently growing behind my house in the woods. I'm addicted to trying to make dang near anything.