Back on the horse
I found a very good article on doing inlay on the web today. This bit was particularly important:
“To cut inlay well requires only that you be able to follow a line with the jeweler’s saw. This was easy to write, but if you are like most it will take many inlay-feet of cutting before you achieve the consistently smooth, graceful line that characterizes expert work. Patience is not a virtue when cutting inlay, patience IS cutting inlay.”
Okay, needed THAT message in a big way. There are things you know, and things you understand. I knew this; I’m still working on understanding it, whether it’s inlay or life. But I was glad to read it. The rest of the article was equally interesting and helpful. I printed it out and brought it home. Highlighted, no less!
First, the author agreed that even the smallest Dremel bit was too big for most inlay work. This was gratifying, because it made me feel slightly less inept, that an expert felt the same as I did. He recommended dental burrs. A quick surf over to eBay found me a set of 20 in different shapes and sizes for $16, and the next time I go to the dentist, I’ll hit him up for his cast-offs. That will help. He also described a 3-step routing process using different burrs, and including the hand-held piece of the Dremel for outlining to start. So I’ll try that.
In the meantime, I decided I could at least prep the pieces of shell on the fresh wood in anticipation of scribing and routing once my tools arrive. I learned also in the article that Duco cement, which I do have, comes up with acetone, so I don’t have to risk breaking the pieces by prying them up, which I have done.
To have less straying from the pattern, I taped the pattern down to the wood with some tape and used a wee burnisher I’d bought for my clay work to lightly outline the design. I knew it wouldn’t fit exactly, but it would guide my placement better than guessing. The line was merely a dent and would easily be sanded out.
If you look carefully, you can see the outline on the wood.
It all adds up. By the time I got to the bottom gluing the pieces down, I could see how short I was of the design. Next time I am going to make a pattern with the thinnest of thin lines, and then cut the pieces and use them as a stencil with a Sharpie or some such, as Phaedrous suggested. This can’t go on. Or rather, I’m sure it’ll go on, but I’d like it to go on with lesser and lesser degrees of horror with each attempt.
I got all the pieces on, although one piece insisted on sticking up, so I tacked it down with some tape while I finished gluing. Then I wrapped the works in wax paper and clamped it again. There it will stay until my new tools arrive.
