The Tools - Platetuning
Mowry Strings uses the Safe-T-Planer cutter (about $50) in such a drill press to carve the external contour profiles of mandolin backs, which are like violin fronts or backs. He calls it a 'topographic step method'. This is an alternative to using hand gouges for carving. I've not tried it yet. The Planer head is apparently also useful for thinning the raw bouts to 1 to 1.2 mm.
