Hey everyone! I'm working on a project where I need to inlay a thin steel strip (about 12 inches long and 5/8 inches wide, with a thickness of .037 inches) into a wooden panel to hold some magnets. I can mark the edges with a knife and establish a knife wall, but I'm feeling a bit unsure about using chisels for the actual dado. I've heard about router planes but I'm not sure which type would be suitable for a newbie like me. Any suggestions on how to approach this?
1 Answer
A router plane is definitely the tool you need for this job! It was designed specifically for making cuts like this much easier than using chisels. Even a budget option will work great. I started with a vintage Stanley 71 and it’s been a game changer. If you’re in the mood for a DIY project, you can even fashion one out of a spare chisel and some scrap wood.
You could even try making a 'poor man's router plane' using just a chisel shoved through a flat piece of wood!