I bought one of Ben’s packing tools a few years ago and I love it. (I use it on a flattened out cereal box and it seems to be easier on the blades than on wood).
But whatever method you use to make them it’s a good idea to use the nylon washer that came with the kits. I don’t know if they were included in the earlier kits because they don’t show up in the parts diagrams until the 70s I think. But using them between the packing and the nut helps to keep the packing from getting damaged too much. And it creates a nice smooth feel when adjusting too.
