Can anyone reccomend a saw to use with the checkerboard jig that Custom Tackle sells?Has anyone tried using these as a thickness jig?I was thinking a person might be able to shim a ring out to a desired thickness and slice.Any info or tips is greatly appreciated.Thanks

The one that works for me is the Stanley Flush-cut saw. Cuts on the pull stroke. About $8 at any Lowe's Hardware or Home Depot. Don't cut all the way through a ring until you have started all the cuts. This helps keep the wedges equal. I used the same jig with fender washers in the bottom to cut thinner rings, but was never satisfied with the cut. Custom has another jig for cutting thinner rings. It works well and is worth the money.

I use the same "Flush Cut" pull saw. It is also sometimes called a "Japanese" flush cut. Works great. Use the slicing jig with washers behing the cork to make any thickness that you want. Here's a pic [www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Mike

I don't know how this saw works with that jig, but this came up with Mikko Stenberg <[email protected]> back around Wed, 17 Aug 2005 here at RBO:

"X-ACTO" Brand 'EXTRA-FINE RAZOR SAW SET" Model # X239 / X75350 . Contains (1) Heavy-duty plastic knife handle, with (1) Extra-fine razor saw blade. Extra-fine razor saw blade has 52 teeth per inch (tpi) and blade thickness is 0.012 inch (0.30 millimeters). The tooth depth is right about or slightly less than the thickness of the saw blade (0.3 mm). Teeth cut only in one direction (as you draw = pull toward you). Overall blade dimensions: 5.50 inches long ; 1.25 inches deep. The backbone on the saw is 3 / 8ths inch deep (0.375"), thus reducing the effective cutting depth of the saw blade to 7 / 8ths inch (0.875"). [Unit conversion: 1.0000 inch = 25.400 millimeters] Available at MICHAELS craft store for ~ $10. I don't know if any of our RBO Sponsors has them as well. (I could not find them in the M-H or the SMRW Catalogs.) ... I bought mine for rod blank trimming, and simple cork cuts. I don't do checkerboard cork. ... ... LOL, ... -Cliff Hall, Gainesville, FL-USA+++

The X-acto saw blades that I have seen aren't wide enough to cut all the way through as the thick top edge on the blade prevents it from cutting all the way through to the bottom of the jig.

Mike

I used to use an exacto saw, but the biggest problem with them is that they are thinner than the jig slots. It was very hard for me to get not only straight cuts, but also consistent sizes in my wedges and I wasted a lot of cork. A while ago I found a 6" Saber Tooth flush cut pull saw at Sears and it fits near perfectly. I get great consistency now, and it goes through cork like a hot knife through butter, actually cutting the cork instead of "ripping" its way through.

The only thing I use the exacto saw for is cutting through blanks. Works real well and you dont get ragged edges.

Bill in WV

My son picked mine up at Sears, also. It fits the jigs real well and cuts like a dream. I couldn't tell you if it's the same as Mick's or not; just know where he got it and that it works well.

Putter
Williston, ND