Andrew Pitonyak
08-18-2017, 10:52 PM
I saw this this thread (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?256972-Bontz-kerfing-tool-and-a-question-why-not-just-use-this-sans-saw) and thought "holy crap, that could save a bunch of time". So, I ordered a kerfing tool of my own. I ordered one with a hickory handle and a 0.02" plate. First, lets take a look at what I received:
366341 366342
This is pretty robust, as it needs to be if you choose to abuse it as I certainly will. I am really curious how that pretty scroll work ends up on the handle and the plate. Ron, are you using a laser for this? Well, this sure is pretty.
Before I show you how I tested it, I need to mention that this also showed up in the box.... A resin infused mallet. This thing sure is pretty, and I have no idea what the wood is (my bad).
366343 366344
I usually use a lighter mallet from Wood is Good. I also have a maple carvers mallet that I think is OK, but have usually used the Wood is Good Mallet.
Even though this new mallet is heavier than my wood is good mallet, it certainly did not feel overly heavy while I was using it in the tests I am about to describe. It felt great in my hand. I will admit that this is highly personal, but I liked this thing much more than I expected; it will see regular use in my shop.
Look carefully at this mallet, notice that there is a brass insert through the hole. I had not expected this extra touch. More precisely, I would not have thought about it. Is this a good thing? I don't know, but if feels smooth with no burrs, so it will probably not prematurely chafe and wear the leather strap. Nice touch.
So, how did i test this?
I grabbed some oak. I do not remember if it is white or red, and I don't feel like going downstairs to check (it probably does not matter).
Normally, I setup my Moxon vice and mark everything very carefully. Well, I was in a big hurry (i have lots to do this evening still), but I am really excited about this, so I wanted to test it. So, I made some pencil marks and quickly sawed the tail. I was a bit sloppy on this so there is at least one flaw where I cut along the shoulder.
I used a marking gauge to set the depth of the tail and then the depth on the pin board for a hidden dovetail.
This is where things went from bad to worse. I usually prop things up and carefully mark where to cut the pins, but, since I did not really setup to do this, I simply held this narrow board roughly in place and tried to mark it with my other hand using a pencil. In other words, my marking lines were different than I usually use and they were very sloppy in their creation. But since I just wanted to test the kerfing tool, I did not want to take the time to do it right. Just check functionality.
So, I marked the pin location with a pencil, I dropped a vertical line, then I did a quick cut with a dovetail saw.
I pounded the kerfing saw in three times per side. This is the second one:
366345
I put the kerfing tool in place, then I used the mallet to bang in. This is the third, and final cut position. You can tell that for this cut with my dove tail saw that I over-cut the mark a bit.
366346
This is the other side on the third cut
366347
The process was to hold the tool in place, hit it with the mallet until it was in the correct location. Then lever it out.
I think there is a limit to the number of photos, so, post this, then a continuation.....
366341 366342
This is pretty robust, as it needs to be if you choose to abuse it as I certainly will. I am really curious how that pretty scroll work ends up on the handle and the plate. Ron, are you using a laser for this? Well, this sure is pretty.
Before I show you how I tested it, I need to mention that this also showed up in the box.... A resin infused mallet. This thing sure is pretty, and I have no idea what the wood is (my bad).
366343 366344
I usually use a lighter mallet from Wood is Good. I also have a maple carvers mallet that I think is OK, but have usually used the Wood is Good Mallet.
Even though this new mallet is heavier than my wood is good mallet, it certainly did not feel overly heavy while I was using it in the tests I am about to describe. It felt great in my hand. I will admit that this is highly personal, but I liked this thing much more than I expected; it will see regular use in my shop.
Look carefully at this mallet, notice that there is a brass insert through the hole. I had not expected this extra touch. More precisely, I would not have thought about it. Is this a good thing? I don't know, but if feels smooth with no burrs, so it will probably not prematurely chafe and wear the leather strap. Nice touch.
So, how did i test this?
I grabbed some oak. I do not remember if it is white or red, and I don't feel like going downstairs to check (it probably does not matter).
Normally, I setup my Moxon vice and mark everything very carefully. Well, I was in a big hurry (i have lots to do this evening still), but I am really excited about this, so I wanted to test it. So, I made some pencil marks and quickly sawed the tail. I was a bit sloppy on this so there is at least one flaw where I cut along the shoulder.
I used a marking gauge to set the depth of the tail and then the depth on the pin board for a hidden dovetail.
This is where things went from bad to worse. I usually prop things up and carefully mark where to cut the pins, but, since I did not really setup to do this, I simply held this narrow board roughly in place and tried to mark it with my other hand using a pencil. In other words, my marking lines were different than I usually use and they were very sloppy in their creation. But since I just wanted to test the kerfing tool, I did not want to take the time to do it right. Just check functionality.
So, I marked the pin location with a pencil, I dropped a vertical line, then I did a quick cut with a dovetail saw.
I pounded the kerfing saw in three times per side. This is the second one:
366345
I put the kerfing tool in place, then I used the mallet to bang in. This is the third, and final cut position. You can tell that for this cut with my dove tail saw that I over-cut the mark a bit.
366346
This is the other side on the third cut
366347
The process was to hold the tool in place, hit it with the mallet until it was in the correct location. Then lever it out.
I think there is a limit to the number of photos, so, post this, then a continuation.....