Hmmm.. I don't recall my ophthalmologist using a tool like this when I had
my cataracts done, but that was many years ago before they had invented
anything finer than a one-inch cold chisel. Looks like a very cool blade.
One might make a handle for it by using some very hard (ebony, rosewood?)
wood of suitable dimension, trapping the blade with a small bolt through
the hole in the blade's top end. I think I might try that! Thanks, Borys.
-d

On Thu, May 4, 2017 at 9:52 AM, Borys Medicky <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I second the use of small screwdriver tips, which (if properly selected)
> can be very close to the desired mortise size, requiring only some
> additional shaping.
>
> Another possibility is this "micro-knife" blade here, which I bought on a
> whim:
>
> http://www.micromark.com/Micro-Blade-61-5
>
> These are apparently used for optical surgery.  Although one would think
> the blade is therefore very thin and slim, it's actually surprisingly
> stout, and the edge is absolutely perfect in thickness and width without
> any modification.  I tried one on a scrap tongue I had lying around and it
> punched right through in one go with no trouble, making a lovely clean
> mortise.  I used it for over a hundred leather-to-delrin jack conversions
> on a first-gen Zuckermann straightside as well without issue.
>
> The only issue is that it may be hard to chuck the thing into some kind of
> holder since the wider end is just a flat rectangle.  It's long enough to
> be held freehand (Jensen-style) if you want to use it that way.  The blade
> won't bend when tapped with a hammer.
>
> BM
>
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Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
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