Slotted brass for dovetail saw back?

[Mark Baldwin III]

By now,I think Mike W. is now selling brass backs again.

I have to go with George on this one. I thought about making my own slotted back, but from a practical stand point (buying a slitting saw, buying brass) the best option was to buy a slotted back from Wenzloff.

[Roderick Gentry]

Sloting can be done on a horizontal or vertical mill though the arbor on a small Hor, is massive compared to the set-up on a vertical mill. The problem around here is finding a big enough mill, since you need a table, not to mention a vise that are real large. My horizontal could run a 1" slot, but the table is about the length of your part, and it isn't going to go back and forth the length you have in mind. Standard Bridgeport would probably be a good bet with the right tooling.

YOU can mill brass on woodworking tools. If I was trying that, I would get a slotting cutter holder, with a 1/2" shank for the cutter, that should be stiff enough. http://victornet.com/report/Screw-Sl...-Saws/753.html

I would bond the brass stock into a slot in a piece of wood so I had a massive grip to safely hold it.

BUt I haven't tried this specific thing yet, saws are on my to-do list.

If I was folding, I would fold it on a brake, and when I got close, I would insert a piece of shim stock into the brass and apply final clamping pressure. I would get a piece of music wire a fraction large that the feeler stock and place it in the spine so that if I made my shim a thou small it would not hinge on the eventual saw blade. I would press the backing over the feeler stock to form it accurately, I think that part should be easy, but again, just day dreaming.

http://www.victornet.com/alphabetic/...-Stock/84.html

http://www.victornet.com/alphabetic/Music-Wire/164.html or guitar string

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2012/Main/613

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2012/Main/611