This method works well on Jelutong and similar timber for thicknesses up to 1/8" (3 mm). For harder wood (Obechi for example), use this procedure to cut half-way through the timber but then turn the wood over to mark and cut from this other side.

Left handed? - Simply reverse the left-hand and right-hand in the following procedures.

Step 1. Place rule near the top of timber and position it the required distance from the left-hand edge.

Step 2. Press the tip of the craft knife blade into the timber at the side of the rule.

Step 3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 but with the rule placed towards the bottom of the timber.

Step 4. This will leave clearly visible indentations in the timber to be cut.

Step 5. With the tip of the craft knife blade in the lower mark, push the rule against the knife and align, by eye, the rule with the upper mark. Now reposition the blade in the upper mark.

Step 6. If this is not against the edge of the rule, push the rule until it contacts the blade. Repeat steps 5 & 6 until the blade contacts the rule when dropped into both marks.

Step 7. Hold the rule and timber firmly with the fingers of the left-hand. Holding the blade of the knife vertically, press it down gently and run the knife from top to bottom. Repeat this until the knife cuts all the way through the timber

© 2007 Neil Helsby