Hand gouges are also used to rough out the channel area across the neck area of the plates.( Opus # 16 violin plate pair shown)
The purfling channels can be cut by hand using a special cutter blade for each side of the groove and then a tiny chisel to remove the wood in between in stages until the depth is about 1/2 of the plate thickness.; or this special tool is available to do most of the work using a tiny carbide cutter in a 'Dremmel' tool.
..0.063" diameter cutter needed (1/16" diameter).
The depth is set to cut the grooves in two stages. Only the corners will need to be cut out by hand.
..The first pass is set to 0.90" up from back side and second pass the cutter is set for 0.075" up from back side of plate.
..Cut in counter clock wise for first and second passes and clockwise around plate for final pass with tape on base, to control motion of cutter.
Tiny carbide
cutter.... the width of the purfling plus a few thousandths of an inch for ease of installation.
In using this power tool, the 'shoe' at the base of the tool guides the cutter. Tool is moved counter clockwise around plate perimeter for first pass.
As with all power tools, mistakes happen very quickly, so work slowly and deliberately.
..Completed purfling channel cut shown...
Modified 9/2017
Page O16C_32
..Put a strip of masking tape across front of base (0.006") and re-cut final pass to widen groove for gluing in purfling. This pass must be in opposite direction: Clockwise! to control motion of cutter.
