Specialist tool?

[MIGNAL]

Here's a rather specialist tool, known as a Purfling cutter or Gamil and is used for cutting the rebate/groove around the perimeter of stringed musical instruments. I also use this in other spheres of woodwork as a miniature cutting/marking gauge.
Bubinga/Ebony wear strips. Actually works better than commercial versions - even if I do say so myself. :shock:

 

[ByronBlack]

I've made a very crude version of this using a razor blade, some tape and a bit of hardwood, works remarkably well. Your's looks like it will handle many years of use, very nice!

 

[Ironballs]

Slightly different tool but I caved and bought the Stewmac router guide for cutting the binding channel, handy for archtops. Yours looks like a nicely made cutter, you'll have Ed interested...

 

[Racers]

Hi,
Thats a very nice looking tool! you can't beat the feeling of using a tool made by your self.

Pete

 

[MIGNAL]

Thanks guys. I've had 2 other commercial versions of this tool. 1 was a Brass affair sold to Violinmakers, the other was the Sloane version sold by Stewmac.
I can't lay claim to the design of this particular one. It is based on a wooden version that a friend made whilst he was at Violinmaking school.
It has 2 distinct advantages to the other 2 that I have owned. It has a low centre of gravity coupled with a long 'foot', that helps to register it on the sides/ribs better. It also can be used with both hands, or rather one hand pulling it aroud the circumference and a couple of fingers guiding the cross-bar. Makes for a big difference in use IMO.

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Really cool!
I use the aluminium LMI, but keep meaning to make a combined gramill/scratch - you may just have found my round tuits for me.

 

[MIGNAL]

Just a quick note regarding the wedges. Although the cross-piece is made from Ebony, the wedges are of stained Maple. Somehow I think that Ebony is probably a poor material for the wedges.

 

[Ironballs]

Was having a look through the Stewmac catalogue whilst on the throne earlier and your cutter seems quite superior to most of what they have in there. Looks good too 8)