SPFSYPCS
Power slotting system stiffeners, set of 2, 5/8" arbor
$124.95
These stiffeners are made in the USA. They are fully hardened to keep them from being damaged which would prevent them, and therefore the blade, from running true. The arbor hole is precisely machined to ensure that the stiffeners run concentrically. The faces are ground to ensure a smooth accurate width of cut.
Stiffeners are the true heart of our power slotting system. They are made of heat-treated steel, are 5 1/2" in diameter, and each is .125" thick. This configuration controls blade runout, extends the life of the blade immeasurably, keeps it from deforming, and ensures accurate slots in your fretboard. Typical table saw stiffeners are simply not adequate for this system.
In Stock
Product Description
Details
- Shipping Restrictions - Location
- No Restrictions
- Tool Type or Function
- Slotting
11/27/2022
Excellent Product But Could Be Improved
When I decided that I was getting back into making stringed instruments after losing much of my gear in a house fire I decided I wanted to get serious. I had tried a miter box and 0.023" back saw to cut the frets which worked but seeing as I had to start from scratch and I already knew I liked building instruments I wanted to go with a power tool set up. The StewMac blade I'm sure would have done the job but as it usually goes for $165.00 every single time that very fine tooth blade dulls that wasn't really an option. The StewMac blade is also made in China and has more of thin section of blade exposed as well as a thinner thick section. I ruled out the option of using a cheap hobby saw and thin blades meant for slitting metal in a mill as that's a very bad and inaccurate option as well as even more expensive than the StewMac blade because those blades are not meant for cutting metal and are not ground for it which means they get duller quicker and they are not cheap.
The separate blade and stiffener setup that Luthiers Mercantile offers is superior because I am only paying for a new blade when the blade dulls. I am only paying for the blade when it dulls. That makes this by far the cheapest power option for cutting frets out there. It's also very high quality. The blade has a proper set to it meant for cutting wood and leaves a perfectly crisp line with no splintering or chipout. These stiffeners are plenty hefty and leave a much thicker cross section than the StewMac blade does meaning this thing runs very smooth and whisper quiet. There is barely a 1/4" of the thinner blade exposed which means it does not deflect or warp.
I only have two minorish complaints about the stiffeners though. The whole in the middle for mounting could be bigger by one or two thou. As they are they are very fiddly to get on and off. One of mine appears to have an every so slightly larger hole than the other. I have them marked so the bigger one I slide to the arbor then the blade then the tighter one so I don't have to force it so far. The second complaint is a bit more serious as it presents a real danger of injury. The edges of the flat metal stiffeners are unexpectedly razor sharp. They are so sharp that you can give yourself many fairly serious cuts on a finger and not notice until you see the blood on the stiffener. My thumb looks a little bit like hamburger right now. There is no reason the outer edges of the stiffener discs could not have their edges broken but just a couple thou to prevent them from being razor blades. Especially when they fit so tightly that they require a good bit of handling and spinning to get them onto the arbor. Breaking the edges just enough to prevent injury would not meaningfully weaken what they do for the blade and I strongly encourage Luthiers Mercantile to look into this. If these two problems were corrected this would easily be a five star product.