i finally had some decent weather so i ripped that osage board that i bought not too long ago. i got 4 slats out of it. 3 are 1 1/2 wide and 1 is 1 1/4 wide. then i put the 1/2 inch blade i bought on my bandsaw and cut a 1/8 hickory backing strip from a 1 1/2 wide x 1 thick x 72" long piece i have. i don't have a planer. as far as a sander goes. all i have is a belt sander. i guess that will have to do. the first piece will be ok because it has the finished face of the board that i cut it from. i'll use that for the glue surface. i want to start on a HBO. don