One Piece, Three Handplanes

Just picked up this old redwood fenceboard at the scrap pile today. Going to be able to net 3 new handplanes out of it. Check it out! This week I finished out 4 new short handplanes without a through handle. I'll be attaching velcro to them with fiberglass loops. Pics to come when I finally get them finished out. I'm really excited to try the new hold out. Also, I've redesigned one of my through handles to be a bit more comfortable. Pics of thos to come soon.

Imperfect wood?

All the wood I use to build my handplanes comes from a scrap wood pile. Rummaging through the scrap pile, I find old fence boards, fallen shelves, and a host of other pieces that have spent their life in another form before being thrown out. Most of it is not perfect wood. In fact, many of the handplanes I build have nail holes, light insect damage, knots, and weathered coloration. Frankly, I prefer it that way. The imperfections add a lot of character to each and every handplane. In the end, it's the imperfect wood that shines through and makes each handplane unique and special. It makes for a neat way to recycle something that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

The Best Thing About Body Surfing

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, which meant there were tons of people on the beach and in the water. As I went to check the surf, I was appalled by the number of people in the water scratching and competing for meager inconsistent waves left over from the swell earlier in the week. Before I write more, I must first admit that I'm a stand up surfer first and foremost. Whenever I can, I grab a surfboard and hit the water. I work in a surfboard factory as a polisher, and even shape boards for friends and family. I love stand up surfing. But today, I didn't feel like joining the masses. Instead, I went up the beach to a favorite body surfing spot where I found myself essentially alone with great little waves. In just a short amount of time, I had caught some great rides and my handplane was working great! As I drove past my usual surf spot on the way home and saw more of the same meager waves, I was glad I opted for my handplane over my surfboard today. I expect I'll be choosing my handplane more now as summer (and smaller waves) are upon us. If you see me out there, let me know and I'll let you try my handplane!

Welcome to Woods to Waves Handplanes!

Woods to Waves handplanes are hand built in Santa Cruz, CA using recycled and reclaimed material giving new life to materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Built to last, these handplanes are constructed out of reclaimed wood (mostly redwood or cedar) and fiberglassed using scrap fiberglass from the surfboard factory where I work. These handplanes are between 18-20 inches long and 7-9 inches wide and feature a deep single concave and continous rocker. Pick one of the four designs, or contact me for a custom order. I'm also working on some shorter templates, which will be built soon. Polished out to a beautiful shine, these handplanes can double as a wall decoration between body surfing sessions. Makes a unique gift for any waterperson!