Thread: Getting more serious - Power Tools

Yeah, I currently do everything by hand. I get my wood in 1/8" peices. I cut the shape out with a coping saw and use a dremel for shaping and then hand sand. It works great but its slow, especially trying to sand down brass liner with a dremel, ughh...

Originally Posted by Bruno

Personally I prefer a simple bastard file. It removes wood very fast, it is dirt cheap (got 3 for 2.5 euros in the bargain bin), doesn't make much noise (can do it when the kids are asleep) and doesn't cause wood dust to fly around.

Apart from the fact that I prefer working with manual tools, the above are the objective reasons why I haven't invested in a belt sander yet.

I also would like to point out that 1/8" flat wood planks are not always as useful as it seems. A lot of razors (especially the bigger ones) have tapered tangs. If you want to make scales that fit snuggly around the razor, you have to shape the scales around the razor. simple flat wood will not work, or you need to use a thick butt spacer to allow the razor to close without having the tang bump into the scales.

I've shaped scales like that on a belt sander, but it is a very dusty work, and ironically, nothing beats a bastard file for speed when it comes to wood removal. give it a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

just my 2 ct.

I was going to mention the Nicholson Cabinetmaker rasps but forgot. They're awesome hand tools and flat out eat wood. Combined with a bastard file for finer work, you can really shape some wood quickly.

I was working on some scales last night and for whatever reason the toxic wood thread popped into my head. Looking at my pile of shavings with very little dust (none airbourne) I thought "breathe this !"

You could buy a small bandsaw for what I invested in my handmade rip saw, just like you can pick up a beltsander for the cost of a cab. makers rasp. Just don't do it

You can get a decent 9 inch skill brand band saw at lowes for 100.00 it has two motor speeds a work light and laser guide. it also comes with a fence and the table will angle to 45 degrees. You can change blades on it I have a 1/4 inch blade for fine work and a 1/2 blade that came with the saw it is fairly light so its easy to lift and put on a bench and then back on the floor if you are limited on work space like I am. It also has a dust port that will hook to a standard shop vac that you can run while the saw is running and you get almost no dust. Lowes does not carry the right size 59 1/2 metal blades for this band saw but they can be ordered I am sure. Hope this helps

If you get a band saw, don’t waste your time with anything less than a one horse motor. I have a 14 inch Jet which is at the lower end of the price scale but is very capable. I can run 1/8 blades and do near scroll saw level work. The big plus to a scroll saw, inside cuts, you cannot do that on a band saw. I can run 1/8 to ¾ inch blades but a half inch is more reasonable. Add a fence and you can re-saw 1/8 inch (or smaller) slabs off blocks all day long. You could cut scales with the same half inch blade but you are not going to roll the ends, just slow sloping curves. The blades you use will make a big difference. Skip the cheap stamped blades, they are junk, get a good hardened blade. They will cut much cleaner and last a lot longer. I have cut six sets of scales at a time with no issues on a 3/8 blade. Changing blades only takes a few moments.

I use a 6 inch floor belt sander to sand the resawn slabs, a spindle sander to sand the shape (outer shape) and a router to mill the edges of the scales. A drill press is handy as well.

It adds up fast, a set up bandsaw (blades, fence, saw) will end up getting you at least $750, probably more, a nice 18 inch Rikon will tip the scale at near 1,400. Add another couple hundred for an inexpensive belt sander, another 4 or 500 for a spindle sander, 500 or more for a decent drill press. If you think that is expensive, you should see what a good table saw goes for. You can run up a couple of grand real fast on just that. Don’t forget dust collection, something around 3 micron is good, that is another 300.

So the end question becomes what do you want to do with all of it. That is a hefty investment for just making scales but if you want to get into making furniture or other serious wood working projects you will need the proper gear and adequate space to set everything up and have working room. What do you need to make scales, coping saw, sandpaper and a drill, but the other stuff makes the job much faster and enjoyable. I have made a dozen sets of scales in a day starting with blocks of wood, but I enjoy wood working.