A 90degree tool cuts a BIG groove! I use a 60deg for everything. A good tool for recovering checking that is gunked up or really worn is a small triangular mill file with the end ground off to make a fairly sharp chisel point on one corner - and that's a 60deg cutter as well. The file thing takes some care but it is easy to see where you are and increase the cut or rock out just like with a chisel. In old texts I see refs to using files and the recommendation is to heat and bend them in a curve. I tried that once and found that the simply sharpened straight file was easier to use. The file will not cut deep easily tho, so the 60deg checkering tool takes over for that. The file is just way more better for correcting old crossovers and getting up to the border.
Like was said, just take your time and work with some magnification.
The stuff I usually do is 24lpi or 26lpi and is a righteous PITA. Brownells has cutters specifically for flat topped checkering - or used to anyway.
Dr.WtS
Last edited by Wonko the Sane; 06/28/10 02:13 PM.
