Luthier knives

The base tool for the luthier is really the knife.
It is a really really sharp short blade, that you drive a little like if you where peeling an apple, against your thumb. It's that way you have the best control.
It's versatile and some makers use it for almost every thing, like contouring a violin plate or cutting the f holes.

The blade can be made from good tool carbon steel or purchased, and the luthiers makes his own handle.
.. or not

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homemadetools/Canifs.JPG

For the top two, I have made the handle, from nicely curly ash, oiled finished. And the bottom one (the best blade I ever had, it's Japanese steel), I didn't have time yet to make a handle, and the easy way is simply to wrap it up with a inner tube strip.

Thanks Christophe! I've added your Luthier Knife Handles to our Woodworking category, as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="/luthier-knife-handles"><img src="/uploads/104801/luthier-knife-handles.jpeg" alt="Luthier Knife Handles" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="/luthier-knife-handles">Luthier Knife Handles</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/Christophe+Mineau">Christophe Mineau</a></span> </div> <div class="tags"> tags: <a href="/tag/handle">handle</a>, <a href="/tag/hand-tools">hand tools</a>, <a href="/tag/knife">knife</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Looks very comfortable to use. Those handles are sweet!

Al