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Thread: Inlay Brass Strips

  1. #1

    Inlay Brass Strips

    How would you go about cutting slots in walnut for inlay if 1mm wide brass strips.

    Would you use a router or saw?
    Ins there a 1mm router bit or saw blade?

    Router plane?

  2. #2
    A shop made wooden scribe fitted with a shop made steel cutter that is back beveled on both sides and bottom.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    Yes, there are 1mm router bits available, but they are generally more pointed at the CNC side of things rather than hand-held work. They could be used with a small trim router as long as you can accommodate an appropriate chuck for the cutter. Amana, for example has a 1mm flat bottom end mill with a 1/8" shank available. You'd need either a 1/8" collet for your router or a 1/8" collet bushing for a 1/4" collet to use this bit. But you may find this fine of a bit pretty tricky to use with a hand-held machine...they are touchy even with a carefully controlled CNC machine.

    A router plane might be the better choice if you can come up with the right combination to to the job.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Providence, RI
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    1 mm = .03937". Lee Valley offers a 0.040" down cut spiral bit for a dremel. They also have a 0.040" groove cutter for inlay.
    -- Jim

    Use the right tool for the job.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
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    Michigan, USA
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    548
    Quote Originally Posted by James Morgan View Post
    1 mm = .03937". Lee Valley offers a 0.040" down cut spiral bit for a dremel. They also have a 0.040" groove cutter for inlay.
    I think they also have a plunge base for a Dremel, along with a fence, etc.

  6. #6
    A string inlay tool would normally be the way to cut such narrow grooves.
    http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...=1,43314,69873

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
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    Lewisville, NC
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    +1 on what Peter said.

    It pretty easy that way.

    Jim

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Wayland, MA
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    I use carbide end mills that are discarded from the electronics industry for all my inlay work-- they are cheap on ebay and have plenty of life left in them for cutting wood. They range from 3-4mm and smaller. I'd use a bit about 3/4 the width of the cut I want and make the groove in two passes, running the router base against a straightedge or curved template for an exact fit and clean edges on both sides.

    I have a small router base from Stewart-Macdonald that holds the handpiece of my Foredom tool.

    So far I have utterly failed mastering getting a clean-edged groove with a scratch stock or similar tool. Haven't tried the Lee Valley one yet.

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