Cutting a shape out of a piece of timber needs care. The craft knife can easily slip and may score the surface leaving a noticeable mark or, at its worst, ruin a part by removing too much wood.

The easiest way to learn a suitable technique to reduce the risk is to cut out a square.

The craft knife should be fitted with a sharp angled blade that can dig into the wood to leave a small incision.

Step 1
	Start by drawing a small square, say 1" (25mm) on a scrap of timber (1/16" [1.5mm] being ideal).

Step 2
	At each corner, following the directions of both pencil lines, press the tip of the blade into the timber with sufficient force to penetrate through the wood.

Step 3

Place the rule between a pair of the cross grain points and score between these noting that the nearer incision stops the blade from overshooting. Applying light pressure, continue cutting along this line from one end to the centre and then the other end to the centre until the blade breaks through the timber.

Step 4

Repeat this process along the second cross grain line.

Step 5

Now, in the same way but applying less pressure, cut the two lengths with the grain.

Step 6
	The part should drop out. If it does not, check the underside to find where a little more cutting is required.

© 2007 Neil Helsby