Cutting/Thinning Precut Blanks - Best Saw Blade

I have some precut knife/razor scales I'm wanting to use but most of them are too thick 1/4+. While I want to make the scales NOW, I think I'll wait until I visit my family and use a table saw. Unfortunately they're out of state, so that may be a while.

What would be the best blade to use in a table saw?? I read here where someone mentioned a thin kerf blade. Would that be the best option?? Any specific recommendations??

I'll be shaving down some 1/4" razor scale blanks (while trying to keep my fingers the same length) and cutting up some thicker blanks into thinner pieces.

Thanks

Cutting 1/4 inch material on a table saw is dangerous,use a band saw or sand it to the proper thickness,JMO

To use a tablesaw. Doubleside tape it to a 2x4, and rip it. Assure the 2x4 is flat and square before doing this. I personally would sand by hand on a flatblock or wide belt or planner.

being the thrifty person that i am i would use a hand saw of some sort. i've had good luck with a japanese style combo rip/cross cut pull saw. that way i can get twice the scales from the piece especially if the piece is over a quarter inch. the other option is a band saw which also cuts a thin curf.

Stay away from the table saw.

At 1/4 in (.25 in) you can block sand but it will take a bit of time. Glue your stock to a sacrificial piece and cut on a bandsaw.

Pixel is correct. Bad things can happen on a table saw with thin stock.

Table saw is not the right tool for what your trying , a planer jointer would thin it for you but it's only a 1/4 inch , you can sand that down pretty quick without all the saw marks and the potential for bad stuff to happen , tc

Depending of the thickness I would either use the bandsaw or a drum sander as I have a pretty good selection of tools. I would otherwise sand it down with a block. You could try to tape it to a block and the push it through the table saw, but it could come loose fairly easily, so you need to decide what is more important the time or the block. It will usually have some pretty good speed when it comes loose so watch out for flying wood.

Who would you guys cut a scale thicker than 1/4? I have a number that are in the 3/8 to 1/2 thick range. I woodworker that I know told me that you wouldn't want to mess with anything thinner than 1/4, but i figure I could split these beefier scales. My inly concern is that some of them are stabilized wood.

The easiest way is to tack the scale blanks to a board with glue. Use a handheld grinder with a low grit flap disk to sand it down. Get it down as close to 3.5mm as you can, then split the glue with a razor and finish by hand. Be gentle with the grinder.

Could try a block plane. Easy enough to clamp a thin stop to a table and take it down to whatever thickness you need with the added benefit of it already being jointed.

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

Quote:

---

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

Quote:

---

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.

Attachment 199235