LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

Ever since I saw Feb 2008 Fine Woodworking magazine with the guy doing the inlays, I got interested.
The tools are available on Lie-Nielson for $155 for two of their tools, but I decided to buy two replacement cutters for $10 each instead and make my own.

I decided to make both tools in one. I use the same head with the cutter and a different attachment depending on whether I am doing curves or straight lines along an edge. The one they sell is only about 5" long and I wanted to make something a little longer, so mine is about 18" long. At this point it seems a little long, but after using it for a while I can always cut it down.

I used two woods, cocobolo for the bar because it is hard and resists bending very well, and South American boxwood for the rest. I used that because it is very strong, tools well and is abrasion resistant. I also thought that they looked good together.

I use brass sheet to keep the adjustment screw from gouging the top of the bar, and stainless to hold the blade. I used stainless because that's what I had and again I thought it looked good. The thumb screws are brass.

For the inlay I just band saw my own strips and run them through the drum sander to get them to thickness.
Holly is the only wood for the inlay as far as I'm concerned. For you base wood you either have to use dark wood or pre-stain/dye a lighter wood to get the contrast. If you stain it afterward the inlays will be too dark defeating the purpose.
.

This is the setup for doing curves:
.

.

This is for doing straight edges:
.

.

This is my first test piece
.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,501 Posts
When are you going into the tool manufacturing business, K. That's a terrific looking gauge. That'll be in my favorites. Thanks for the post.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
796 Posts
Gary, you truly are a master. Great job and thanks for the post.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,011 Posts
Wow, Gary, I'm always impressed. You have more talent in one of your fingernail clippings than I have in my whole body…

That looks very well done! I need to get a feb FWW now to see how to use it, or maybe you could do a short blog and show us. THANKS!!!!

-Steve
 

· Registered
Joined
·
28 Posts
Looks great Gary. The few times I've done stringing like this I used a scratch stock to make the channel. It works fairly well, but you can end up with rough edges when cutting cross-grain. Your cutter will do that much better. Very nice,
Kerry
 

· Registered
Joined
·
17 Posts
Nice job. I like guys who make their own solutions!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
207 Posts
that's great gary. I have that issue too. I never thought to try and make that myself. i'll have to put that in my things to do down the road file.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
335 Posts
Looks like a manufactured tool, Gary. That is terrific!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
166 Posts
That is too cool… where did you get the replacement cutters?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
251 Posts
Gary that looks great - I'll have to get more details on this tool. The tools look manufactured. Thanks for sharing the information.
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
2,704 Posts
I don't even know how to do inlay but I sure want to try. Maybe with something like this I could. I'll have to find that issue also. thanks Gary. mike
 

· Registered
Joined
·
366 Posts
where your test piece looks so nice, I can't wait for you to post a completed project!
nice work all around.
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
10,409 Posts
Nice engineered tool Gary
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,110 Posts
Shoot Gary, now I want something else! <g>
Very pro job.
Waht do you figure the cutters are made from?
They look like surgical stainless steel in the pictures. (A440) ???

Bob
 

· Registered
Joined
·
5,163 Posts
Gary,

Why am I not surprised at this well-engineered effort? Very nice job. You have both a functional piece and it is gorgeous as well.

Well done!!! You are an inspiration.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,266 Posts
It looks like a 20.00 order is in order…nice post Gary…Blkcherry
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,122 Posts
Great looking tool!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,054 Posts
absolutely incredible craftsmanship !
 

· Registered
Joined
·
420 Posts
Gary-It certainly is a beautiful piece of work.

How is the cutter different from an exacto type blade?? Just curious . . .
 

· Registered
Joined
·
207 Posts
I'd like to be a fly on the wall and just watch you work, nice work.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
604 Posts
Just echoing everyone else, very impressive. Could use one myself.
 
Top