maple keep sake box

[duckkisser]

took this blue jean stained box that i made and cut a maple leaf in the top.  this was made with my new miniture router

 

 

maple leaf top using glass dust

 

here is a quick picture of the box here is some necklaces that im making laying on the table top

 

my router

[Eric.]

The leaf is pretty cool.  Sounds like you've been sucked into the inlay wormhole.  But what's with the mitered frame around the solid wood top?  You know better than that, duck.  Tisk, tisk.

[duckkisser]

early box that i figure i would use it up while practiced.  for this size of a box i dont think it will shift that much plus the top is thin probably on 1/4-1/2 inch thick. 

 

was shooting to make the leaf look like the summer was fading so i used a dull green and more vibrant red for the tips.  as i do more inlay ill collect more material that i can use for inlay.  hoping over the years ill have a whole shelf of different colored materials.

[TRBaker]

The inlay looks great, Duck.

[duckkisser]

thanks

[Byrdie]

Nicely done.

[Freddie]

My first jewelry box lid was mitered around a solid center, oops!!!! I didn't know, and now I do. Its in my gallery and it serves as a reminder of when I knew absolutely nothing. I know its wrong, and I still proudly display it because it was my first project. I was learning on my own.

[ChetlovesMer]

That inlay is very nice.

I think every woodworker ever has done the mitered frame thing early on. Sometimes we even get away with it.

[Egraff]

Very nice maple leaf! What's the point of the mini-router, out of curiosity? For the fine detail inlay I've done, I've just used a 1/16" bit with my normal full size plunge router with great results. Best, EG

[duckkisser]

well i tried it with the larger plunge router and it is so bulky it blocks my vision and its hard to remove dust from my work as im cuting.  and i find that i tend to do small boxes, jewlary ect... so a large base tends to woble on wood so it does not cut even.   with my set up i can have full view of what im cuting plus i have suction to remove my sawdust.  also it is light weight and small enough that just hang it above my head and take it down when i need to route out a picture.  it will never replace a large router for big jobs but when i want to be comfortable and do tiny inlays i can with no problems. 

 

 

here is the company i bought my base from

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Routing/Precision_Router_Base.html

 

honestly if you could try it you would change your tune i spent a hour making a sighn the other day and with full size plunge router my arms were tired at the end with this i could do it all day. 

[Egraff]

Hmmm sold.  :-)

You're right - I almost always do this type of work on larger pieces only, but I totally see what you are saying about working with smaller boxes and having the router tip over...  I always find myself messing with building a support for the router when this happens which is a major pain.  

Next time I have a project that calls for it, I'll have to keep this in mind.  Thanks for linking all that good info.

 

 - EG

[duckkisser]

glad to hear ya if you do this type of work on a regular bases then its total worth the money and since im inturesting in small carving and inlay type work then its worth the cost which isten that high.

[Bombarde16]

That inlay is very nice.

I think every woodworker ever has done the mitered frame thing early on. Sometimes we even get away with it.

 

Color me lucky as a noob: My early mitered frame was on a table top made with floor tiles pasted onto particle board.