daviddoria Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I have an inlay bearing kit that has the removable bushing for cutting the male and female workpieces with the same template. However, the with the removable bushing in place, the bushing diamter is over a half inch, which doesn't allow even remotely small detail in the inlay. Is there any way to make details smaller than .5" besides using a "freehand" technique (like Marc does here: http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/router-based-inlay/)? I'm trying to do something like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Fleur-de-lis-fill.svg/2000px-Fleur-de-lis-fill.svg.png and with the .5" bushing I am not able to get those sharp points. Any suggestions? Thanks, David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 For points you need to finish with a chisel or knife. A router is never going to give you sharp points. I'd use the template and bushings for as much as possible, free hand router as much as you can after that, and then if you want actual sharp points finish up with a blade. Here are some alternatives, but you won't like them: Find someone who will let you use their laser CNC machine Free hand with a scroll saw on a piece the same thickness as your inlay, then glue it to a backer. Dremel with a bit that has a 1/8" bit and shaft, with the "Precision Base" for the Dremel. Then finish with a knife or chisel for the points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daviddoria Posted February 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Beechwood - With option 3, how do you make the positive exactly the same as the negative? Manually fitting them seems like it would extremely hard with a complex shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Yeah, I hadn't really thought option three through. Also, without a bearing on the shaft you are going to have a friction/heat/burning problem. Paste wax might help. As is often the case, the luthiers probably know how to do this. Look into how to do inlays on fretboards. But, I think this is one of those cases where a little practice and doing it free hand the way Marc demo'd is the best way to do it. I recognize the urge to come up with a fool proof procedure to follow, but sometimes that's just not a good way to do things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 luthiers often do routed inlay by hand, and they use colored epoxy so that it fills and hides any gaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave H Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I've only done it once but I did free hand with my router and finished up with a chisel. I cut the inlay first than set it on my bench scored the outline with an exacto knife set the depth on the router so the inlay was going to be proud just an iota it's not as hard as you might think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 When I inlay on my guitars I use a Dremel with a StewMac base. I also try to avoid having any sharp points in my designs so the problem with getting the sharp parts rarely emerges. All routs are roughed out with a larger router bit and then the edges/detail is completed with a very fine router bit 1/64" and 1/32" diameter. Very small cuts and large magnifying optics help here. If there are any sharp points then a surgical scalpel is utilized. I do all mine manually by hand with no guidance. The Dremel will not run away, like full size bits in regular routers do, so it is easy but you have to be very careful with those fine router bits - they can break very easily. The inevitable gaps that emerge are filled with CA glue and the substrate dust. So, for instance, ebony fret boards when finished don't have any gaps around the inlays and look perfect. Lighter coloured woods like maple are more problematic as you do see a darker edge around the inlay. But that is only when you scrutinize it very closely. An average Joe would not even be aware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just do it freehand. It's time consuming but leaves you without limitations the way templates and bushings do. Another problem with the bushing kits is if they're not dead nuts centered around your bit - and they rarely are - you'll have small gaps all over the place. One of my freehand attempts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwalter5110 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I would like to try to do some free hand inlays myself, but I can't draw to save my life! Do you guys just print out pictures from the computer and transfer them? Or do you all usually hand draw them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 You can use tracing paper taped to your computer screen...that's what I did with the one above, then I took it off and made minor changes. No shame in it if you're not artistic...like me. Just don't sell something with stolen artwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 April Wilkerson uses a projector. I don't know if that would work on something smaller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janello Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Never seen that piece Eric. Really sweet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Thanks man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Super pimpin' table top Eric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Awesome table Eric. I know the inlay took a while to do! For that matter, the legs were no easy task either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Jimerfield Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Nice grain layout on the top. Well balanced. This thread has clearly been hijacked... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.