[Woodworking]Scratch stock

**Christophe Mineau** · Jan 28, 2016, 05:43 AM

Hi,
I am currently on the process of restoring an antique bed frame, in very very poor condition, the kind of job nearly impossible .. One of the challenges is that there were moldings on this bed, but actually I only have a few of them surviving, just enough for having an idea of the original profile, but definitely not enough to revive the bead from the death.

So I needed to remake the moldings, and I decided to go for a scratch stock.
I could have done it simple, but as usual, when an opportunity for a new tool appears, I cannot resist trying to make it pleasant ...
Actually, it's been a while I have been looking at the Veritas beading tool with desire and so I decided to take inspiration from it and here is what I ended up with :

Front and rear view:

Here it is a ball bearing based fence, for following any curved edge.
I am still on the learning curve, but I tried to decorate the front plate with a little bit of engraving. That's not yet what I would like it to be, but I'm making some progress....

Top view showing the straight version of the fence.

The fence has a little groove in it in order to allow some overlapping with the iron.

The tool in situ :

and here is the result on some cherry wood :

See the article on my Web site talking about this "tarabiscot" (the French for scratch stock) :
I explain how I make the iron and some details of the build.
La Belle Note - Tarabiscot

Please ask me any question if anyone needs more details.

**kbalch** · Jan 28, 2016, 08:07 AM

Hi Christophe,

Wow. Another beautiful and extremely useful hand tool. Magnifique!

Ken

**Paul Jones** · Jan 28, 2016, 10:03 AM

Christophe,

This is an impressive looking tool with your custom profiles and a work of art. The classic engraving is a nice touch. Hopefully you can sharing some photos of the restored bed when it is finished.

Thanks for sharing, Paul

**DIYer** · Jan 29, 2016, 03:35 AM

Thanks Christophe! We've added your Beading Tool to our Woodworking category, as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Beading Tool by Christophe Mineau

tags: wood, beading

**Brendon** · Jan 30, 2016, 08:10 AM

Christophe,
This has to be the finest scratch stock/beading tool I have ever seen. It is really beautiful; a collector's item.
Brendon

**Christophe Mineau** · Jan 31, 2016, 03:26 PM

Following up with this tool, as I spent several hours during the week end making some moldings with this tool, here is a little video showing how it performs :
The fist part shows some agressive cuts, roughing out the profile. you can see the shavings it makes.
The second part shows some finishing cuts, their goal is to polish the surface in order to avoid any sanding.

**kbalch** · Feb 5, 2016, 12:08 PM

Hi Christophe,

Another functional and attractive contribution! Your Beading Tool is the 'Tool of the Week'!

As you've already received one of our official HomemadeTools.net T-shirts, we'd be glad to award you a $25 online gift card.

Just let me have your email address via PM and we'll get things processed directly.

Congrats!

Ken

**Brendon** · Feb 5, 2016, 01:51 PM

Christophe,
Congratulations on winning Tool of the Week.
Well deserved for a fantastic tool.
Brendon

**Christophe Mineau** · Feb 5, 2016, 03:41 PM

Waooo, many thanks Ken, and Brendon, I am greatly honored, this was not expected !

I hope this post will bring up to date and highlight this kind of hand tool, which I feel are too much deprecated and are really more satisfying and self rewarding to use than routers ore any other power tool.
I'm sure Brendon you know what I mean, as an old plane collector and maker !

Thanks again, I am really pleased, and looking forward to seeing some old tool revivals from you all !
Christophe