Shop Made Decorating Elf Tool by Bob Grinstead

Decorating Elf Tool

Here is a decorating elf tool I made for embellishing tops and boxes. It uses a standard 1/8” cutter ofany shape.

A ball cutter works great.

Elf tool parts

I bought:

  • 1/8” id x 3/8” od x 5/32” bearings (you need
    two, Amazon).
  • 3/8” x 3/8” rare earth magnet (Amazon).
  • 1/4” x 3” brass nipple (Home Depot).
  • 3/4” copper coupling (Home Depot).
  • Cut the threads off one end of the brass nipple.
  • Drill 3/8” hole all the way thru the nipple.
 

Elf tool tip

Drill 13/32” hole for the magnetic starting on the threaded end of the nipple stopping 1/2” from the other end this leaves room for the bearings and a spacer.

Make a 3/8” x 3/16” wood spacer with a 3/16” hole in it for the tool to fit thru.

Spacer is to allow the 1/8” tool to stick out past the end of the nipple less.

Peen the opening of the nipple to make a stop so the bearings will not come out.

I used a 3/8” dowl to push the magnetic, spacer and 2 bearings up against the peened end on the nipple. Cut the dowel a little proud of the threaded end of the nipple.

Turn a tool handle with a copper ferrule on the cutter end.

Drill a 1/2” dia. x 1” deep hole for the nipple unit.

Epoxy the fer” rule and the completed nipple unit in the handle.