How would inlay this...

[OscarG]

I'm trying to create a pair of eyes in a bandsaw box, thinking of using abalone and maybe something else that's dark for the pupils, so it kind of looks like this...

I've done inlays before, for a guitar where I managed to inlay some mother-of-pearl shapes into a fretboard, I cut out the shapes using a jewellery saw and gradually sunk them in with a router attachment on a dremel, any gaps, imperfections filled with sawdust and glue.

However as this is an inlay within an inlay I'm a bit stumped as how to go about this.

How would you do it?

 

[MikeG.]

Until someone who knows what they are talking about comes along, I would offer this suggestion. Wouldn't you inlay the blue stuff first, and when that was dry carve out a hole for the central black stuff and inlay that?

 

[Droogs]

There are several ways of doing this, it just depends on what tools you have.
1. create the eye complete using standard marquetry techniques such as "window method" or using a scrollsaw or handheld fret saw. once complete then use the eye to as a guide trace round with a very sharp scalpel on the ground substrate and then carefully create the rebate for it and stick it in
2. create the inlay rebate first and then trace the resulting edge and use that to make the whole eye in abalone and then create the pupil with the above methods.
or some combination of the above as to order depending on tools.
personally i'd do 2
hth

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I think you will need to determine what your materials are before you think about the method, or else determine your method then pick the materials to suit.

 

[Ring]

How about using something like this.....

https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Tre ... d-Tungsten

 

[Lons]

I've done a fair bit of pictorial marquetry using the window method Droogs describes and it's very easy to make up the eye in 2 contrasting veneers, you could dye the pupil before cutting it out. Note that with the window method you tape the face side then scrape off after gluing in place.

I've done only limited inlay work but if wanting to fill the iris with filler mix then I'd probably just cut out the pupils and glue them into the centre of the eye recess leaving slightly proud for later finishing then fill the iris when glue is dry.

 

[sunnybob]

I'm out. :shock: :shock: =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

 

[OscarG]

Cheers guys!

Do you think some of that coloured epoxy they use for "river tables" might work?

If I rout the cavity for the whole eye, cut out a dark puple, glue it in middle then fill the iris with the epoxy, would get a perfect fill then and no accurate cutting involved.

 

[OscarG]

There are several ways of doing this, it just depends on what tools you have.
1. create the eye complete using standard marquetry techniques such as "window method" or using a scrollsaw or handheld fret saw. once complete then use the eye to as a guide trace round with a very sharp scalpel on the ground substrate and then carefully create the rebate for it and stick it in
2. create the inlay rebate first and then trace the resulting edge and use that to make the whole eye in abalone and then create the pupil with the above methods.
or some combination of the above as to order depending on tools.
personally i'd do 2
hth

Cheers! I'm off to watch youtube of what the "window method" is!

 

[Lons]

Best to use a s/s surgical scalpel handle Oscar, the plastic disposable ones can snap and the blades I use most are No. 11.
I have several scalpels as they're cheap and they get used a lot for various tasks.