There are multiple threads here about the tools we use to make scabbards. I've made several and tried a few different methods, but I've never tried a barrel channel bedding tool. Seems like it might be well-suited to the work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTL-nEf4wts

Sean,

Do you have a round cross sectioned sword? ;)

Neat tool for its intended purpose. Its an interesting variant of a scorp or inshave with scraper cutters instead of a bevelled edge. If you really want to make scabbards by coring out wooden billets you might consider a router plane. Very controllable compared to a power router.

The Lee Valley version is a bit, um, overpriced. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=...8945,52609

but you might find an old Stanley online. http://paulsellers.com/2012/11/buying-good-to...ter-plane/

No round sections for me ! I was thinking that the smaller ones would take out a narrow strip on a flat surface. multiple side by side passes would maintain a flat surface as the channel is cut. seems like it would work like a plane, but with more leverage and control. I haven't had good experiences with planes, but I haven't used a good one. I love the Surform tool and this seems like a useful counterpart.

Something that may serve a similar purpose are woodworking tools called 'floats'.

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The straight handled version might be difficult to work with, but the 'crank handle' one could do very well.

They've been compared to an extremely wide/thick saw blade, which I find not inappropriate...

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I agree that this is not necessarily a great tool for the job.

However bowyers use a float which is a block of wood about the size of a cigarette pack. Set into this are many (around10?) scraping blades.

You could adapt this type of tool easily by making your own.

get a block of wood around 5" x 3" x 1"

get 3 hack saw blades

use one to cut saw cuts 1/4" deep across the 3" dimension - say 9 cuts.

snap the blades into 3 pieces

fill the saw cuts with epoxy

push the blade pieces saw teeth first into the cuts and leave to bond.

Use a belt linisher/grinder or angle grinder to remove any blade bits hanging off the edges

Do this slowly or the epoxy will get to hot and give up.

use a belt linisher/ginder or even hand held belt sander to shape the blades to suit your sword. You will need flat sanding machine for this as the point is that all the blades have the same profile.

After the grinding the blades will have burrs on them. There better ways to make the burrs cut better by cleaning the blades and then rubbing a hard tool down them to create a cutting burr (look up cabinet scrapers on google for more sharpening info) but if you leave the grinding burrs it will cut OK

if you push this float along the wood surface it will scrape away thin layers so that you create a hollow the same shape as the float.

If you haven't made one by the end of tomorrow Sean I will be disappointed.

Tod

chisels it is, then! well, i do find the little Dremel plunge router attachment to be helpful