Official Luthiers Forum!

In my previous post, "Uses for Veneer", Woodie mentioned using a rotary tool and a straight edge to cut purfling strips. Woodie, (or others, please chime in) what kind (or brand) do you like to use? In a google search, I see that Fiskers makes one... I have used a box cutter on black fiber with a straight edge, but I think veneer would split that way. A rotary tool seems like a great idea.

BTW - A lot of good ideas in that post. Thanks to all that replied...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Another tool you might consider would be an oscillating tool with a half round blade. Kind of like a veneer saw on steroids.

Steve, I use this LV marking gauge. Not sure if this what you mean by rotary tool.
I keep thinking I will build a dedicated one using a tubing cutter wheel.
Works well for me. 3 or 4 passes for each strip, 5 or 10 minutes and I have enough for a guitar plus a couple extra for the inevitable FU's.

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My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.

Brian,
I like the idea of using the LV marking tool. Something like that with a bigger cutter as you suggested would be great. I've tried a gramil type tool with a fixed blade but it was hard to keep it going straight. Rotary sounds better.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Would something like this work?
http://www.joann.com/sewing/cutting-too ... ers/#sz=36

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

My wife uses one if those for cutting fabric. If a person was to make a cutting board with a way to cut straight it should do the trick

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I use a Fiskars rotary cutter with a straight edge for cutting veneer purfling strips. I have a heavy I-gauging straight edge that is perfect for the job. It is heavy enough to largely stay in place and has a "knife" edge so it is easy to line up the cutter. A couple light to medium passes, rather than one heavy pass, helps to keep it from splitting or following the grain lines.

Kent

I like the OLFA RTY-1/G and RTY-2/G tools...both are usually available at fabric stores, along with refills. Other than the size of the cutting wheel, the tools are very similar and easy to use. In the shop, we use a heavy gauge 48" aluminum straight edge (the same as used for our fret templates...$8 at Home Depot or Lowes) and a few clamps on a handy bench edge.

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We have become a civilization that elevates idiots, prostitutes, and clowns. Am I still to defend it? Yes, for its principles. Yes, for what it was. Yes, for what it still may be.

-Mark Helprin, The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story (A Novel)

I remembered reading about Veneer saws years ago so bought one. I have Had good luck with it.
A knife edge soon shifted and followed the grain. Not the veneer saw.
Sharpening it properly is mandatory. I found directions somewhere.

+1 on the veneer saw. It's what it is for, and it does the job right. Of course, like almost any hand tool it must be sharpened.

I have a skill battery drill driver that comes with a mini circular saw attachment that cuts veneer. also use an older paper cutter with a guillotine blade , a veneer saw or a very sharp japanese single bevel knife. and a long 36in heavy steel st , edge with a craft knife or box cutters

I just use my smaller proxxon table saw (ks 230 ?), works well.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

The advantage to using a rotary cutter is that the cutting edge is stationary relative to the material being cut, so there is little or no tendency to follow the grain as seen with razor blades, mortise or cutting gauges, knives, or other moving cutting edge. Also ideal for clean, distortion-free cuts in stretchy, bias-cut materials like the bias tape we use for side reinforcements.

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We have become a civilization that elevates idiots, prostitutes, and clowns. Am I still to defend it? Yes, for its principles. Yes, for what it was. Yes, for what it still may be.

-Mark Helprin, The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story (A Novel)

Hi Woodie,
The OLFA rotary tool looks interesting and not too expensive. I noticed they also sell a rotary circle cutter and was wondering if you had any experience using it.

I still like using the oscillating tool with the half round saw blade but it's nice to have other (non motorized) options. Today I cut through 6 layers of veneer in a single pass with the H.F. oscillating tool. For about the same price as an unsharpened veneer saw it's hard to beat.