Richard Leon I think it is better to use both. The router plane with the inlay kit can be left with your settings and to create the score lines. The plow plane has the ability to then remove the waste to depth. Veritas' small plow plane would easily be adjusted to sneak up on the score line, and depth. It is much quicker as well. Plus you could custom grind a plow plane blade if need be. I love both planes, much better than a power router imho. I'd be done before the setup is complete on the power tool. 😷

jlg4880 Thanks, you could do that but I don't think the cut would be very clean. The inlay kit is ideal for scoring a groove the exact width of a piece of string inlay. Scoring the cut means you will most likely get no tearout, which would be a problem with your suggested method, especially when going cross-grain.After using the inlay cut, it's still necessary to route out the waste in the groove with a router blade anyway.

mouppe Good point! I was figuring you'd still use the router plane to plow out the waste, but the side rabbet could have been useful for making very slight adjustments. I've gotten clean cuts with the Lie-Nielsen versions of the Stanley 98/99, but that's been on scrap soft wood. Big difference when it's an actual project piece that's already got a substantial amount of time and work invested in it. I'm just wondering if the inlay cutter accessory would work for the purfling channel in luthiery.

jlg4880 Yes, I think it would but you would have to figure out a way of reliably using the fence to follow a smooth curve. This router plane really works best with straight lines. I haven't had much success with the curved end of the fence.

Bit more achievable than an American 11/64th

Hi, I have no idea what make it is as it's nothing special. The biggest weaknesses of these types of callipers is the battery cover. I've seen so many break in the past. I wouldn't bother buying an expensive pair though.

Phyllis Ramshaw save your money and get a good mechanical calliper like a Mitutoyo or Starrett. The other problem with electronic caliber is that the batteries always go dead right when you need to use the calipers. Both brands above are high quality and will last a lifetime. They also are available in metric and imperial sizes...and get the eight inch or 200mm versions.

Sounds like good advice.

+Chris Holfeuer It's made by Incra.

The hand tool is offers much more precision in this instance. You may not have a router bit the exact width of your inlay whereas with this setup you are able to precisely adjust the width of the groove. Also you may choose to use hand tools instead of power tools. Don't get me wrong- I have both- but for this delicate type of work I prefer to use the router plane.

Thx for your opinion on this, can you not use a piece of inlay the size of your router bit?

Ian Robinson that would be very difficult as inlay can be an almost infinite variety of widths.

An additional benefit of using the hand tool over a power tool is that it doesn't create noise or throw dust all over your work area. Also, there is real joy in using hand tools and traditional methods.

Then use a skinnier cutter and go twice. Surely you don't have almost infinite size of blades either. Don't get me wrong I am all about manual skill and I admire skill more than technology. But it seems to me that equipment is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.