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After participating in a recent thread about scratch stocks on the old tools list, I decided to make one. In the process, I learned a couple of things I want to pass on. First take a look at the
finished stock. It is from a piece of Brazilian rosewood I have been
saving for a long time, mostly sapwood. It is about 1” thick by 4”
long by
It is sitting on my first piece of work using the stock. You can see the beads on either side of the board. Next is a picture of the blade I made. I used this picture so you can see the pattern I ground into the blade. The pattern means nothing, I just needed to grind something so I could make this tutorial.
Next is a picture of the entire blade with the pattern cut on both ends. The pattern or patterns you choose are a matter of personal choice.
I made the blade from a piece of steel I cut from an old 2 man crosscut saw. I have been cutting stock off of this old tool for years now. I use a die grinder with a metal cutoff wheel to cut the saw steel. This piece is 1 ½”wide by 6” long by .060” thick. The thickness of the stock helps to prevent chattering. I can cut this long piece into 2 pieces when I want more patterns. I could have bought some 1/16” 0-1 steel for this and avoided the grinding, but the 0-1 would have been soft, while this saw stock is moderately hard. As you can see, the steel is pitted, and that pitting would interfere with making a good sharp cutting edge. I used a disc sander in various grits down to 400 to get below those pits along the edges, far enough back so it will not impinge on the cutting edges. After I had it ground, I used my hard felt wheel to polish it. Then when I ground the profile it was really sharp. Next is a picture of the end showing the tapped hole, and a piece of 3/16” brass round stock. I have never understood why, but the loose piece of brass in the hole makes for a tighter grip when you tighten the screw. This is probably because the brass is flat on the end and makes good contact with the blade. I am not sure. I use this little trick on a lot of set screws.
Finally, here is a picture of the side of the tool. I simply sawed a groove wide enough for the blade to slide into.
This is a really simple project, and the only things new here are making the blade from an old saw, and adding the short piece of brass round in the hole. I have been wanting to have a tool to make beads along the edges, and now I have one, thanks to the guys on the old tools list. I am sure I will find more uses for this little tool. It sure works great!
Jim D. Thompson
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