What tool is used to

[Berserkergang]

Does anyone know what tool is used to cut out the little grooves that are on the sides of the traditional corded nunchaku?

[Numbnuts]

Hm...

It's definitely not a back-ho. Unless it's a really, really small back-ho.

Maybe a chisel? I've used a dremel tool to sand down a groove and drill holes through nunchuck batons before.

You know they are mostly made by machine though. I doubt anyone uses hand tools to manufacture anymore.

[Pyrus of Insphyre]

Depends how intricate of a design you want to have.  A dremel tool will work good for most typical designs you would see on standard chucks.  An idea to consider is a wood burning kit.  Otherwise they make something similar to a jigsaw for cutting designs in wood.

[Irv]

Traditional corded nunchaku ?!  Octagonal or round ?
A jigsaw could do that, i think ?! 

When carving my Bo, i found those scalpels very usefull:
# 15 was my allover-favo and #11 best for corners and square
grooves. I didn't like the feeling of grooves and carvings, so i
filled the grooves with varnish, till the surface was smooth again.
Perfect, after polishing those areas with sandpaper.

[$e@n]

If you are talking about where the rope feeds through the chucks, then you are going to have to start by drilling two holes all the way through the chucks about 1" to 1 1/2" apart. Then it is time for the groove, all you do is chisel out the wood between the holes with a chisel. If you don't have a chisel, then a flathead screwdriver may work.

This link may help...
http://www.geocities.com/bubbaroces/howtomake.html
Good luck

[Spikedsteel]

For groves going up and down on a chuck like the  slot the string hide in you  use a wood router.


For slots going around the wood you would use a lathe.


and a drill press is the proper tool for putting the holes threw the dowel.


Of course if you are really lucky and you or your dad is ric. you could use a 3d cnc.

[Pyrus of Insphyre]

Traditional corded nunchaku ?!  Octagonal or round ?
A jigsaw could do that, i think ?! 

When carving my Bo, i found those scalpels very usefull:
# 15 was my allover-favo and #11 best for corners and square
grooves. I didn't like the feeling of grooves and carvings, so i
filled the grooves with varnish, till the surface was smooth again.
Perfect, after polishing those areas with sandpaper.

Very nice!  I was also thinking.  I don't remember the exact name, but by the hammers in the hardware store they usually have nice wood carving tools.  I might pick up a set & play around.

[EleManT24]

Anyone know where to get access to a cnc machine? I have a project i'd like to use one for, but it's certainly nothing worth buying one for.

[$e@n]

Anyone know where to get access to a cnc machine? I have a project i'd like to use one for, but it's certainly nothing worth buying one for.

CNC machines can be pretty expensive. Where I used to work their was one that cost over $100,000.
Maybe you know someone who has a job working with one and you could give that person your project idea because if you don't know how to program one of those things, you can't make it do what you want it to. You basically have to go to school to learn how to write the programs for CNC machines.

Just remember that you can do anything a CNC machine can do with the right tools and know how. CNC machines are basically for precise mass production anyway. But if you really need your project done on a CNC machine (for perfection reasons I would be assuming) and don't have any friends who can help you out, then the only other option I can think for you to do would be to try to find a company that is willing to make your idea, but that could be expensive. Hope that helps you out