first try at Intarsia

[Thomp]

Intarsia as i understand it is "painting with wood" as explained here.

Bought this new dremel 1680 and played with it cutting out figures for mobiles and such. but now wanting to try Intarsia

Ok you use different colors - species of wood to use as shades and hues. as i understand it

heres the kicker that might be answered by some intarsia wise person.
when using 5 species - colors of wood do you stack 5 sheets and cut the intire pattern out of all 5 then pick and choose alternating color scheam off-setting backround colors ect...

or do you cut each piece out of individual color needed? and precision sand to fit

Also most wood ill cut is 1/4th" what blade should i use for uniform saw blade kerf..?

thanks in advance....

[jttheclockman]

I would highly recommend you get a beginners book on the subject intarsia. You do not stack cut the pieces because each piece is fitted next to the last piece and each is sanded to fit. Usually a person is able to just cut the pattern and ity will be very close fit and may need some minor sanding. If this is not the case with you then you need to practice scrolling in the true form first. You vary the thickness of the pieces to give it a 3D look. Good luck.

[Thomp]

THanks clockman


I just wasent sure if you was suppose to fill the cracks - Kerf with glue and finish or what...

My idea seamed too easy anyway..
but it would seam to cut out the project on the line. for the individual pieces then trace the piece on the species of wood then cut in the salvage seamingly would make each piece bigger than needed ?

just a thought,

i do think i need to find some books on the subject in stead of trying to reinvent the wheel...

thanks again.

[sheltiecarver]

Thomp2
Try the Intarsia Workbook by Judy Gayle Roberts. It will step you through the beginning steps pretty well. Also she (actually they - I think her partner Jerry has a hand in the books) has several other good books - Small Intarsia, and maybe Easy Intarsia. Fox Chapel may have them, or a good bookstore - in person or internet. Or you could do as I often do - cruise down to a library, and "check it out!"
By the way, I do remember seeing a sort of Cheshire cat in one of Judy's books that was stack cut - the way you described - only 2 kinds of wood - but you would have wider kerfs than you might get with another technique.
Good luck, and have fun!
Sandy

[Max]

Thomp2,

Here's an online tutorial to help you get started: http://intarsia.net/e-book/Intarsia101.htm. I've done some intarsia and do some things a little different and I'm sure everyone else has their own techniques. I find I do more sanding than sawing for most projects. Good luck and hope you enjoy it.

Dan

[Thomp]

Thomp2
Try the Intarsia Workbook by Judy Gayle Roberts. It will step you through the beginning steps pretty well. Also she (actually they - I think her partner Jerry has a hand in the books) has several other good books - Small Intarsia, and maybe Easy Intarsia. Fox Chapel may have them, or a good bookstore - in person or internet. Or you could do as I often do - cruise down to a library, and "check it out!"
By the way, I do remember seeing a sort of Cheshire cat in one of Judy's books that was stack cut - the way you described - only 2 kinds of wood - but you would have wider kerfs than you might get with another technique.
Good luck, and have fun!
Sandy

Sandy and all... thanks for the ideas,

Guess im trying to find another hobbie that dont require buying anymore tools.. I got so many trinkets, doo_dads! and tools here, i find it difficult to dig through the mess and find the ones i already own,
I know good luck!

Now i find out i need to buy an oslating drumb sander to make it easier on the curves....

Iv did some inlay work with venieers but thats done with exacto-razorblades and glue mostly slight bit of sanding...

[sheltiecarver]

Thomp2,
I hope that last post doesn't translate to "Too much other stuff needed - I'm giving up" !!
Just try to cut something out of one piece of wood (I guess that is officially "segmentation", but what the hey!) sand or shape the edges by whatever means you have (hand, dremel, any sort of sander, put it together, and say "Look what I did!
Intarsia will come right along behind, if you like it. I'm betting lots of those really good 'uns started with only some very basic tools and an idea - no reason why we can't do the same.
Go get 'em!
Sandy

[Thomp]

first try at Intarsia

Hope its not too late to reply
sorry i been a little busy,,

since the question asked originaly
i have bought a real scroll saw instead of trying to use the el cheap-o pin end only small saw i was trying to use.

some experiance with the round blades have given me much more controll of my quick turns and precision when doing fragil fretwork..

recieved my scrollsaw magizine and am thinking hard bout trying all the projects..

[jimp]

interisa is fun to do use a good hard blade like FD polar #7 will cut strait up and down a lot less sanding

[Gill]

The advice of anyone who can make intarsia like those horses has got to be worth heeding. Lovely job, Jimp.

Gill

[Thomp]

Jimp,
sure makes it look easy, to see a finished piece like that but i know it wasent done in one hour... grin....

Guess i got a long ways to go before i get the confidence to try something so complicated,

[jimp]

ha ah it all takes a little time so keep at it.

[jimp]

thanks gill .

[3_M]

Kathy Wise has a very nice site and you can find a lot of help there.
http://www.kathywise.com/
She works a lot with SSW.

Mike M