Abstract: An method of making a metal bonded, abrasive tool uses a perforated stencil to place abrasive parcels in a pattern on the cutting surface of the tool. The stencil is placed against the tool preform so that the perforations define cavities. Metal brazing composition in the form of a paste is packed into the cavities and the stencil is removed to leave discrete parcels of brazing paste tacked to the cutting surface. Abrasive grains are deposited onto the paste particles and fixed in place by firing the preform at brazing conditions. The abrasive grains thus are precisely positioned and spaced apart on the cutting surface by abrasive free channels which are defined by the web of the stencil. The abrasive free channels provide paths to facilitate flow of coolant material and swarf particles at the cutting zone. The method can include initially placing the brazing paste parcels onto a resilient, transfer medium and subsequently transferring the parcels onto the preform cutting surface.