So, I'm looking to make a couple of molding planes (and maybe even a skew rabbet if I get ambitious) for some upcoming projects. As best I can tell, my options for making blades are:
1) Buy a bar of O1 steel from [insert supplier of choice] and do all of the cutting myself. No problem with actually forming the profile I want, but cutting the long tang, etc. would take a fair amount of time with Ye Olde Hacksaw(e)
2) Buy blanks from Lie-Nielsen cut to size at a pretty substantial markup (I can get an 18" bar and get 4+ blanks for 2/3rd the price of a 1" wide blank lovingly crafted in Maine).
3) Some other supplier?
(#3 is the cue for the knowledgeable Neanderthal to chime in and come to the aid of the aspiring Neander)