TomD
"Thanks. What I was actually wondering about was the question of laminated vs non-laminated wood plane construction. Is it possible that the extra work in making the non-laminated type pays off in a "stiffer" plane?"

No, it isn't possible. There shouldn't really be any difference. Laminated would allow one to undertake a composite construction which could give superior structural properties, or even stability properties, it is also possible to build bad characteristics in. On stiffness, presumably adding a sole, something I don't prefer, makes the plane stiffer. You can also make a Krenov plane out of Diamondwood, I have a lurid one somewhere.

" Otherwise, aside from the possible satisfaction from following an older tradition, I would have trouble seeing the benefit from all the work in making a traditional plane."

It is actually a lot faster making a traditional style plane both in net time to make, and time to get the project in the shop. This obviously depends on the tools one has. Assuming you have a proper way to hold the block, proper chisels and hammers, and floats, you can get a trad plane out faster than glue-up. I am talking functional planes, finish time can be a variable, or say a complex tote vs a toteless. Some of my Krenov planes have the bandsaw marks left for grip, if they turn out nicely enough.

As for the laminated, if one has planer, jointer, bandsaw, drill press, lathe, they can be pretty quick, but the killer is you have to prep the block, then resaw two sides, redress, redress center block, drill pin, glue up, etc... Wait for glue to dry, all to get to where mortising out a golf ball's worth of wood would take you. Plus, there are power tools that work with the mortised plane method.

Also, as a newbie, I remember trying to make the Krenov plane on a table saw, with a bad blade, and poor alignment. I had to learn how to rebuild the saw to get rid of the chocking smoke. And it isn't a safe method. As a newbie Japanese plane maker, I slapped a block up against the garage wall with the sole on the concrete patio, and had at it with my 1/2 mortise chisel. Back then it did take me a while to learn how to perfect a chisel, but that is part of the trick for the plane also.

I started making traditional western planes mostly because I came to believe they were better. And also for the usual, something new to me type reasons. This took me a while, like 30 years to come around to. I was pretty set on traditional Japanese planes, and Krenov planes, those where the nostagia for me. Ultimately a plane with an escapement free of obstructions is the best option. I like both the Japanese, and World approach to that. They both have their own advantages. I made at least one of these resaw style, but it really isn't all that good a method, for those planes.