FIG. 14. How ribs may be joined to the long members.
Planes of any considerable size require ribs to support and hold the fabric in shape. Split bamboo is one of the best materials for this purpose. Two very good methods of joining the ribs to the long members of the planes are illustrated in Fig. 14. In the first, a strip of thin sheet aluminum is bent around the rib and spar and fastened by lashing with silk thread. Care must be taken to file off all sharp edges on the aluminum which might otherwise cut the thread. The second method is the neatest and probably the best, since the rib cannot so easily twist or slip out of place.
Wood Planes. In spite of the many advantages of fabric planes they cannot approach wooden planes for efficiency on a small machine. Wood is strong, light and does not change its adjustment.
Whitewood and spruce are the best materials for the purpose. Do not endeavor to saw out the wood. Use a carpenter's plane as much as possible in the work. A saw tears the fibres of the wood and will make the finished plane full of tiny splits.
The wood, however, may be sawed down to a thickness of 5/32 of an inch and then planed down from that. The finished plane should be about 1/16 of an inch thick.
When planing down the wood do not butt one end against a bench stop, because as the wood becomes thin, the pressure exerted by the plane against the wood will cause it to rise in the middle and thereby become thinner at that part. Instead, use a clamp to fasten the wood at one end to the bench and plane away from the clamp—Plane down to a smooth surface and avoid the use of sand-paper.
FIG. 15. Form for bending the planes.
Forming the Curve by steaming and bending the wood is a very poor method. It soon becomes distorted and warped.
