I have a penchant for making my own hand tools, and while I admit it takes about a year to complete a project, I really enjoy it.

 

My latest creation is a slitter, used to make parallel cuts in leather, felt, etc, but naturally I had to improve upon the antique design even though it is a tool of yesteryear. I love polished 316L stainless steel so to give the tool a modern look, I used Soft Maple (cut on my farm) and fabricated all parts out of polished stainless. Rather then use the old style cutter which is always down in the old style of tool, I made a mechanism that allows the knob on the front to lower a utility blade from 0-3/4 of an inch. I did this because I love the sharpness and ease of buying that type of blade. While I was trying for convenience, I incorporated a tool free blade changing system so that you can simply pop the blade in and out without tools. This blade is located inline with the outside of the slitter so you have a guide in which to make your cut.

 

I also tried to balance the tool so that under full extension the tool is balanced. I also incorporated stainless steel wear bars in the wood made from 1/4 inch plate, so it won't wear out anytime soon. I cut the wear bar on the fence extension bar in the shape of an arrow for added flare and then epoxied that into the wood. This gives the locking knob something to grab onto and not indent the wood from repeated use.

 

Overall this tool is made to work, and work well and for many many years. But in reality it is a presentation tool,and comes with a dovetailed box, complete with red felting inside and a glass top so that it can be viewed dust free. Overall I think it came out fairly well...even if it is outdated!! :-)

 

Very nicely done Travis. Can you use for slitting veneer?

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com

Wow Travis, that is pretty awesome.

 

Great craftsmanship in the tool and as you say, it should last a life time and more.

 

 

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Beautiful work! I have never heard of a slitter but I wish I had one now. Will it work for slicing veneer?

I am not sure. I have not worked with veneer much, but the answer would be yes, IF you can slice veneer with a utility knife blade. You would get a parallel cut at least from anything O"-12" which is the range of the slitter I made. Just the balance would be slightly askew as you made the adjustment.

 

You could make one easy enough though. Maybe one not get as fancy as I did, but they certainly would be easy to make, especially if you used a straight forward knife blade holder instead of one that was tools-free in changing and adjustable. A simple round knicker like those used on some of Lie Nielsen tools (or at least used to use when I worked there a few years ago) would be easy to fabricate.

Awesome Travis, just Awesome.

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.