cutting damper felt

[harvey]

Paul,

I cannot find your original post, only replies about what you don't like and
what doesn't work. I don't know why all the difficulty for just damper felt,
unless you're going in the felt business. That said, I have used all the
following methods for (various) felt work:

1. The original, cheap 'vanilla' felt knife, polished to mirror finish and
sharpened to a razor edge, protected in a leather sheath, and touched up by
stropping. Reserved exclusively for felt work;

2. Pruning shears (aka hammer shank cutters). Great for felt and leather, and
quite portable;

3. The guillotine and the Ford style cutter. As Keith mentioned, the Ford
style
is superior. The two might compare to a table saw and a radial arm;

4. Olfa (tm) rotary cutters have their places. Be aware that these are
available in different diameters, and you may be using one of the smaller
varieties. Also, the optional, large (desk blotter size) cutting mat makes
things much easier;

5. Big sturdy knife, like butcher's cleaver, persuaded with a Harley tool on
the spine. (Equivalent to large, poor man's guillotine);

6. Electric carving knife (type with twin reciprocating blades). Be advised
it's better to have your own and not borrow the one from the kitchen;

7. Sabre saw with special knife blade instead of saw blade. Saw can be mounted
upside down in a portable router table if preferred;

All of these work, with varying accuracy. It just depends on the job, and how
much bulk material needs to be reduced to working specs. The latter two items
are great when working with foam, which is where I stole the ideas.

Regards,
-jh-

At 09:45 AM 7/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>I have the guillotine type felt cutter with the razor blade holder and i'm
>disappointed in the way the blade smashes the felt and distorts it first
>before the cut occurs. I thought the sharp edge of the razor would be
>sufficient to do the job. When I toured Kimball in the late 80's, I saw them
>cutting damper felt from sheets with a machine that had a spinning blade much
>like the one you see in meat depts. in the grocery store. The operater said
>you can tell the blade was getting dull when it pulled the felt before it
cut.
>Now your notion of spinning the blade from your rotary cutter-which I have-to
>cut felt bears some thought. I have access to machine shops and very clever
>people that run them. I'm putting this problem to them and will report later.
>I have tried the rotary cutter and straight edge technique for sheet stock
and
>have had good luck with the thin stock and marginal results with heavy stuff.
>Going back and forth in short bursts seems to keep the felt flat, but also
can
>easily create double cuts or off line cuts. I was hoping to hear of a machine
>that did the job.  Thanks to you and all who have replied. Your advice is
well
>taken.
>
>Paul ChickRPT
>Plainview MN
>  

Jim Harvey, RPT
harvey@greenwood.net