Learning to inlay

[charic]

Well I decided a few years back I fancy learning to inlay.

Yes I know it's difficult
Yep it's probably going to be a bit pricey

But it can involve pretty woods and shiny shells. That's enough for me. Idle hands and all that.

So this thread will document my journey to fame or failure (actual fame or failure not guaranteed).

Just starting on sources the tools so any tips on the equipment I'll need to get started?
I don't need the best stuff but I don't want to need to replace it because it's rubbish either...

[charic]

Ok first set of research turned up an old thread where I had previously asked these sort of questions (thread here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5032&hl=inlay"]Inlay Thread[/url] )

Also turned up a great site for materials : [url="http://www.smallwonder-music.co.uk/shop/Inlay-Dots/New-Zealand-Paua-Dots/p-118-443/"]Small Wonder Inlays[/url]

Final thought for the moment. Routers... This one is looking like a likely candidate at the moment: [url="http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7151000/Trail/searchtext%3EDREMEL.htm"]Dremel 4000[/url]

Any cheaper but just as / good enough options?

[SteveO]

Never done any work on a bass, but I have done inlays before. I use a dremmel and a [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-26150335JA-Dremel-Plunge-Attachment/dp/B0009EQ5QA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313250143&sr=8-1"]router attatchment[/url] The smallest bit I have is 1.5mm which all but eliminates the problems of bit radius on corners when you follow a template. You can get smaller, but I never needed to go any smaller than that. With a bit of practice it is fairly easy to get good results.

[charic]

Thanks SteveO,

I'm not looking into doing basses/guitars for a looong time. Which Dremmel are you using out of interest?

Thanks for the tip radius tip... confusing line

[Andyjr1515]

Hi charic

I will watch your progress with great interest - it is on my list of next things to try.

The stuff I saw that looked right was the Dremel 4000, the mini router attachment (Stewmac sell it in US but I think you can get it direct in UK too) a scalpel, a piece of wood with a slot in it and a jeweller's saw (with plenty of spare blades!). Mind you looking is as far as I've got so far

Keep posting!
Andy

[SteveO]

[quote name='charic' post='1338917' date='Aug 13 2011, 06:02 PM']Thanks SteveO,

I'm not looking into doing basses/guitars for a looong time. Which Dremmel are you using out of interest?

Thanks for the tip radius tip... confusing line [/quote]

Oh, I don't know. Its a blue one
It looks like the 4000 from your link, but they're all much of a muchness. IIRC the differences are negligible - cordless, different attachments in the box etc.

[charic]

Andy that's great! If you start looking into this aswell please pitch in. I'm just sorting the shopping list now. Which I will post up in it's completeness before I go begging for bits for my birfdy

Thanks for your help SteveO, how long do your router bits tend to last?

[charic]

Ok here's the shopping list so far:

[b]Router [/b]
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dremel-4000-Rotary-Tool-4000-4/dp/B0033UWLX8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313248329&sr=8-1"]Amazon - £70.38[/url]
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Routing/Dremel_4000_Rotary_Tool_Outfit.html"]Stew Mac - £63.56 (+shipping/customs etc)[/url]


[b]Precision Router Bass[/b]
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/5260"]Stew Mac – £32.96 (+shipping/customs etc)[/url]


[b]Router Bits[/b]
[url="http://www.smallwonder-music.co.uk/shop/Tools-&-Finishing/Spiral-Router-Bits/p-123-454/"]Small Wonder - £7 each (2 x 1mm, 2 x 1.6mm, 2 x 2.4mm) - £42[/url]


[b]Air Pump[/b]
[i]Keeps work area clear[/i]
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Inlay/Mini_Air_Pump.html"]Stew Mac - £8.56 (+shipping/customs etc)[/url]


[b]Pearl Cutting Jig[/b]
[i]Make my own??[/i]
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/5195"]Stew Mac - £6.73(+shipping/customs etc)[/url]


[b]Jewellers Saw[/b]
[url="http://www.smallwonder-music.co.uk/shop/Tools-&-Finishing/Jewelers-Piercing-Saw-Frames/p-123-447/"]Small Wonder – £8.75[/url]


[b]Jewellers Blades – Extra Fine[/b]
[url="http://www.smallwonder-music.co.uk/shop/Tools-&-Finishing/Piercing-Saw-Blades/p-123-448/"]Small Wonder - £2.75 (for 1 dozen)[/url]


[b]Scalpels[/b]
[url="http://www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk/handle-detail_166_retractaway-knife-swann-morton-product-no-2800-2801-or-9201-.php"]Retractable Handle - £3.60[/url]

[url="http://www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk/blade-detail_24_no-11-non-sterile-carbon-steel-scalpel-blade-swann-morton-product-no-0103-.php"]Blades – No11 Single Packs - £10.27[/url]

I'm going to need to investigate the glue etc that I need and I'll get my hands on some masks for while I'm working. Are the disposable ones fine if I'm working in an open garage?

[charic]

Looking at the startup costs I am starting to think this may have to go on hold. Trying to save for a house is a git!

[SteveO]

[quote name='charic' post='1338940' date='Aug 13 2011, 06:40 PM']Andy that's great! If you start looking into this aswell please pitch in. I'm just sorting the shopping list now. Which I will post up in it's completeness before I go begging for bits for my birfdy

Thanks for your help SteveO, how long do your router bits tend to last?[/quote]

Still on my first bit I haven't done that much inlaying. I've done 5 box lids with inlays (the inlays were about 5cm square) and an inlaid string on a chest (about 15m total length) they're still sharp with no scorch marks the last time.

[JimBobTTD]

[quote name='charic' post='1338954' date='Aug 13 2011, 07:02 PM']Ok here's the shopping list so far:

[b]Router [/b]
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dremel-4000-Rotary-Tool-4000-4/dp/B0033UWLX8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313248329&sr=8-1"]Amazon - £70.38[/url]
[url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Routing/Dremel_4000_Rotary_Tool_Outfit.html"]Stew Mac - £63.56 (+shipping/customs etc)[/url]
[...][/quote]

I'm no expert, but surely the Stew Mac will be 110V?

[BigRedX]

If you're not doing so already start following the [url="http://www.crimsonguitars.com/workshop-diary/"]Crimson Guitars Workshop Diary[/url]. There's normally some fairly detailed photos of inlay work in there every week.

[Andyjr1515]

[quote name='JimBobTTD' post='1339359' date='Aug 14 2011, 09:52 AM']I'm no expert, but surely the Stew Mac will be 110V?[/quote]

Hi,
I think the router charic refers to is the router attachment for a Dremel 4000 (the latter which, as you rightly say, needs to be sourced in the EU). charic - have you forgotten the cost of the Dremmel in your calcs or do you already have one?

[charic]

The dremmel is on amazon.

Just to say a quick thanks to everyone but I have decided to yield to finances and put this particular ambition on hold.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1339364' date='Aug 14 2011, 09:59 AM']If you're not doing so already start following the [url="http://www.crimsonguitars.com/workshop-diary/"]Crimson Guitars Workshop Diary[/url]. There's normally some fairly detailed photos of inlay work in there every week.[/quote]

That site is a treasure trove of very useful information, direct from an expert!

[SteveO]

[quote name='charic' post='1339798' date='Aug 14 2011, 06:26 PM']The dremmel is on amazon.

Just to say a quick thanks to everyone but I have decided to yield to finances and put this particular ambition on hold.[/quote]
Don't give up just yet, you don't need to buy all of that stuff before you start. As with most crafts the trick is to start simple and build up your toolkit as you go along. It is possible to do inlaying with a scalpel, a mallet and chisel and a block plane - admittedly it'll be tough to do any intricate lacework in Mother of Pearl with those tools though. Remember that as good as modern tools such as mini routers are, they were inlaying wood well before Ben Franklin went out kite flying on a stormy night.

I've checked in the workshop and I've got the Dremmel 300 - cost me about 300 Kroner (30 quid-ish) I'm sure the 4000 is the mutts nuts with its "Electronic torque control system", but I can honestly say I've never wished that I'd gone for a more sophisticated model.