Looking 4 Letter Opener Pattern

[MikeDingas]

I remember seeing an article or such on creating wooden letter openers. Problem is I can't remember where I saw the article. I get library books on scrolling and it may have been in one of those books which means I'll likely never see the article again.

Does anyone have a recollection of the article? I have a supply of 1/8" solid cherry about the right width for a letter opener but too small for much else.

[PuzzledMoose]

There's 3 patterns in Patrick Spielman's "Fun and EasyScrollsaw Patterns", Mike. Page 20 if you have access to the book.

[Greenfield_Bob]

Wood magazine had one a few years back, but I don't remember when it was.

Bob

[MikeDingas]

Thanks, Ian. I do have that book and found the patterns. Cutting the pattern should be fairly easy but I'm not sure how to bevel the blade so it looks nice. I've got a belt/disk sander with a 1" belt but it cuts rather aggresively. Beveling to a taper is going to a bit of a challenge. Guess it's trial and error time!

[lucky788scroller]

You might just have to use your 'armstrong' sander. I use mine frequently.wrap sandpaper around a block of wood and using the armstrong sander, sand that bevel on the edge, it really wont that as long as you might think ,if you start really coarse and work your way to fine. Dale

[meydenhart]

Mike, I have made some using a disc sander. You can attach the cut piece to a extra piece of wood with strong double-sided tape, then you have wood to hold on to while you bevel-sand to a taper.
Remove and re-attach to the wood to do the other side.
It worked for me

[Kevin12]

A couple of the pattern catalog companies (Wildwood, perhaps) have patterns for letter openers. Is that where you could have seen them? They may include instructions for making the bevel. Not that Dale and Sue's techniques aren't great.

[MikeDingas]

Mike, I have made some using a disc sander. You can attach the cut piece to a extra piece of wood with strong double-sided tape, then you have wood to hold on to while you bevel-sand to a taper.
Remove and re-attach to the wood to do the other side.
It worked for me

Sue, did you make a jig to keep the bevel straight. That's what I worry most about. But the book patterns show a very nice smooth arc on both sides of the 'blade'. I guess that means rocking the wood back and forth to achieve that look.