Synopsis: Scratch stocks are small and simple tools but they can make a world of difference in your furniture. With just a shopmade scratch stock and a bit of ingenuity, you can add a custom edge detail to your furniture and go way beyond what is possible using router bits. There’s really no limit to the profiles you can create. The two Garrett Hack uses most often are for beading an edge and excavating for string inlay.

Every so often you discover a hand tool that changes your woodworking. Scratch stocks have changed mine. These versatile tools have not only greatly expanded my ability to create fine details, but they’ve also changed my design aesthetic, allowing me to play with edges to create custom profiles that fit perfectly with my work. and the design possibilities are almost limitless.

I use a shopmade scratch stock. It’s really just a…