Thread: Cutting/Thinning Precut Blanks - Best Saw Blade

If Your going to do alot of scales,or making Veneers,This is the best way.
Luthier's Friend Sanding Station | stewmac.com

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

If Your going to do alot of scales,or making Veneers,This is the best way.
Luthier's Friend Sanding Station | stewmac.com

Good idea! If you have a drill press you can get sanding drums for it and do the same thing, just clamp a fence to the table. Cost savings would be considerable, my lumber yard sells drums for around $20.

If I had some 1/4 stock and really wanted to make two scales from it, which I have done.

• rough cut perimeter, make the smallest rectangle that your scales will fit in
• draw a center line on all four edges
• use a Japanese style pull saw and start cutting your way in from all four edges do a little at time

If all goes well, and you hold your tongue right, you can get two blanks that are around .1 thick.

It is tricky but it can be done.

Charlie

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I appreciate all the responses. I tried using an electric sander with 50 grit to thin it down, but it still seemed to be 'cutting' pretty slow. Maybe next time I'll put it on a stable flat surface use more pressure.

The drum/belt sander or band saw would be great, but I don't have access to those types of tools. I'm in a 1 BR apartment near Atlanta, and the tools my Dad has are geared toward carpentry and home repair work. He doesn't have a band saw, drill press, or belt sanders.

I did a bit of reading, but if I just done a little more research here I would have seen where there are some suppliers that have a selection of 1/8" thin blanks. Next time I'm probably going to order from Rockler, BellForest Products, or Wood Craft.

I just watched a Mastro Livi video and I am not sure which trick of his amazes me more, his ability to rough shape damn near anything with an angle grinder or the way that he makes his one piece sales with a bandsaw and a slack belt

Originally Posted by JDM61

I just watched a Mastro Livi video and I am not sure which trick of his amazes me more, his ability to rough shape damn near anything with an angle grinder or the way that he makes his one piece sales with a bandsaw and a slack belt

Are no tricks,Is called experiance.

Band saw with a good low tension silicone steel blade, if not then a good quality jig saw with an appropriate blade.