 |
 Using
a saw with a kerf thin enough to grip the thickness of your blade
stock, cut down the middle as if you were going to create two book-matched
Ls. Kerf not thin enough? No matter – just saw all the way through
and use more bolts to hold it together instead.
 Round off the underside of the blade clamp area. This helps you tilt
the cutter into the kerf to adjust how deeply you're cutting. It doesn't
have to be precise. Try to make sure the face of the fence is reasonably
flat and square, and chamfer or round all edges to make it comfortable
to hold. Add as many nuts, bolts and screws as you think you need
to close up the kerf so that it holds the cutter where you want it.
Congratulations, you've just made your first scratch stock.
To make the cutter, use permanent marker on the blank to create a dark background, and scratch in the desired shape with an awl. For your first bead, it might be easiest just to make one the size that your round file will naturally make if you file straight down. Round needle files can form excellent small beads.
Hold the steel firmly in a vise and file the shape, with edges as square as you can make them. Follow up with fine slip stones for a sharper edge if desired. And don't forget to finely hone the flat faces too. It's the 90° edge where the face meets the profile that does the cutting. No burr is required.
|
|
