This is one I've been trying to work out for a while without buying yet another piece of machinery. I'll buy more equipment if it'll solve this, but before I do I thought I'd run it by the forum since most of you have probably already solved the issue.

I have a few boxes of exotic hardwood pieces that are all in various shapes - from 3/4" thick up to 8" and larger - as well as some thick pieces of other materials. I'll sometimes just use my compound saw to cut a few slabs for scales but the kerf of those blades are almost as thick as what the final scale will be - and that just seems like a terrible waste of wood. Tried using the scroll saw but that gets uneven slabs since I can't figure out how to make a good ripping guide for it. That results in almost as much waste as a result of sanding to get the slabs flat. Hand sawing using a very thin blade works, but again, uneven slabs.

So, does anyone have an approach that results in 1/8 to 3/16 thick wood slabs that doesn't involve a kerf that's just as thick? Couldn't find a thread on this at first look but there may be one in here that I can't see. Seems like a little table saw that uses a really thin blade would work but I can't find one online and Woodcraft doesn't seem to have what I need.

On a side note, I've had RAD and HAD for years, but this may simply be a symptom of some "restoration equipment acquisition syndrome" as well as signs of "scales material acquisition syndrome" as well.

Mike