How is this cut made?

[Jay Selway]

So I was just looking at this website, and came across these really cool, single piece wood wallets. But since I'm a total newbie to woodworking, I'm not sure how the artist made the deep groove cut where the cards and such go.

http://www.slimtimber.com/products/maple-wood-wallet

I assume it's a router, or a CNC, but since it's such a deep cut I wasn't sure. And if it is a router, what kind of bit do you think is used?

If anyone can enlighten me, I'd really appreciate it!

[scott vroom]

So I was just looking at this website, and came across these really cool, single piece wood wallets. But since I'm a total newbie to woodworking, I'm not sure how the artist made the deep groove cut where the cards and such go.

http://www.slimtimber.com/products/maple-wood-wallet

I assume it's a router, or a CNC, but since it's such a deep cut I wasn't sure. And if it is a router, what kind of bit do you think is used?

If anyone can enlighten me, I'd really appreciate it!

I don't know how it's done.

I'm not sure how practical a wood wallet is for guys that carry wallets in their hip pocket....ouch.

[Jay Selway]

Thanks :rolleyes:

[Ted Calver]

If I had to build one, I'd either start with a pattern and bearing guided router bits, taking small passes and working my way down, or use my hollow chisel mortiser, or use a series of overlapping forstner bit holes using a drill press, or drill it out with my Festool Domino....lots of ways to skin a cat.

[Dave Zellers]

If I had to build one, I'd wait until the feeling passed.

I'd love to see the statistics on how many people who bought one were still using it 3 months later.

Although I hear the Dutch are big on them ...


But if you're determined, probably break out the mortising machine, and a lot of hand sanding inside.

[Jay Selway]

Could this be done with a CNC? Not sure how deep they typically can cut.

[Victor Robinson]

They're made from a single piece of wood, but that doesn't mean the single piece of wood remains a single piece during the whole process.

Resawed blank, dish out the two halves, glue back together.

[Peter Quinn]

It's probably made on a cnc machining center with a long mortising bit, like a slot mortiser but under a hood like a molder, and in an orientation like a Bridgeport. Probably makes multiples from a much longer board. I could probably make wallets with my slot mortiser, it easily goes that deep and more. But why?

On the "strong" thing, the ends are some very weak short grain, I can't imagine that thing lasting in a pocket for very long. It would probably be stronger if well made from 5 different pieces of wood, but not as pretty and mysterious. Maybe if you keep it completely filled to support the center and never sit down? I like wooden business card holders for a desk setting but don't typically put those in my pocket and travel.

[Jim Matthews]

I could probably make wallets with my slot mortiser, it easily goes that deep and more. But why?

My best guess, too. Probably 8-10 of these start as inline slots, and are separated on a bandsaw for external shaping.
This is one of those solutions in search of a problem.

[Jerome Stanek]

If you look close at the second picture you can see a seam

[John K Jordan]

I first looked for a seam but didn't see one so I suspect it is machined. (What at first looked like a seam to me on the second picture turned out to be a dark line in the wood.)

[Pat Barry]

Easy job with a CNC machine, multipasses, ease the bit down a little at a time. Not glued back together for sure.

[Dennis Aspö]

Looks like a job for a pantorouter, or horizontal mortising machine.

[Rich Engelhardt]

If you look close at the second picture you can see a seamI thought that too, but, a couple of pictures later you can see what looks like a seam is actually the grain in the wood - there's a dark streak.

Anyhow - when I was in high school we used to make rings out of scraps of wood. It didn't take much to bust them in half. I suspect these card holders would be the same. Sit on one and it would probably snap....

[Al Launier]

They're made from a single piece of wood, but that doesn't mean the single piece of wood remains a single piece during the whole process.

Resawed blank, dish out the two halves, glue back together.

My thoughts exactly as well.

[peter gagliardi]

This can be made with a Maka swing chisel Mortiser , and probably is. I know a guy in Canada who does so. Mark Hennebury of Solidwoodmachinery I believe.

[Roy Harding]

It's just a 2" (approximately) deep mortise (based on the given dimensions of 2.5"). Mortiser, or drill press would be all that's needed. No need to slice in half, scoop, and reglue.

A CNC with adequate Z axis height would work - but even if I had the height on my CNC (which I don't - my Z axis height is limited to 4"), I'd still use a drill press/mortiser.

[Chip Byrd]

Ha. I am in Holland, MI, and it is Tulip Time. They are attempting to break the world record for the most Dutch dancers in wooden shoes. Don't think they do anything with wooden wallets 😉.

[Roy Harding]

Actually, I think it's misnamed - it's more of a business card holder than a "wallet".

[Edward Oleen]

I looked very carefully at the second picture. near the lower left corner, along the closed end, there is a line. Now it could just be a line, or it could be a seam. I think it is a seam: the figure in the wood near that corner changes AT THE LINE.

I think they sliced the blank in half using a thin blade, hollowed out the insides, and then glued. I also think that the ends are much thicker than the sides, which would solve the "crunch" problem.

I agree that the items are "for show", not for practical use. And there is no way I'd carry it in a hip pocket. Side pocket, yes, hip???? Are you crazy?

[Bill Orbine]

Perhaps using the Festool Domino 700 can do the job???? No seams!!!

[Dan Hahr]

How about the long one mentioned here:

http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20779/end-mills-vs-router-bits-for-mortising