Thinning out blanks... What order

[Heespharm]

I have a couple 3/16 blanks that I need to thin out.. Do I thin them out on a belt sander after cutting but before taping the halves together

So thin, tape, cut to to shape or..

Tape, cut to shape, thin out?

 

[Doc226]

I have a couple 3/16 blanks that I need to thin out.. Do I thin them out on a belt sander after cutting but before taping the halves together

So thin, tape, cut to to shape or..

Tape, cut to shape, thin out?

I tape mine together, cut the shape out, sand the shape to where I want it, drill holes and thin out.

This order makes sense to me because you really want the shape of the scales to be where you want it before you drill the holes. If you drill the holes and then finish shaping the scales the holes might not end up perfectly centered.

Drilling before thinning is important because you want a straight through and through hole. The inside of the scales I'm assuming are straight, this is the part that sits on the tang and the wedge. You want perpendicular to the inside of the scales. By drilling before thinning you are more likely to get perpendicular all the way through.

 

[Heespharm]

I tape mine together, cut the shape out, sand the shape to where I want it, drill holes and thin out.

This order makes sense to me because you really want the shape of the scales to be where you want it before you drill the holes. If you drill the holes and then finish shaping the scales the holes might not end up perfectly centered.

Drilling before thinning is important because you want a straight through and through hole. The inside of the scales I'm assuming are straight, this is the part that sits on the tang and the wedge. You want perpendicular to the inside of the scales. By drilling before thinning you are more likely to get perpendicular all the way through.

From the words of a master... Thanks!

 

[silver]

Maybe it's just because I had limited tools and no belt sander, but I found it easier to thin the blanks first on a table saw, then cut them out and tape together (assuming the blanks are straight).