Official Luthiers Forum!
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/

12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16578
Page 1 of 1

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:00 pm ]
Post subject:  12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Sheldon raised the question about multiple pieced inlays last week, and it proved timely. This inlay is not nearly as complicated as his, or at least as layered. But it does have a number of pieces.

This was a request from a client. It was taken from a church window here in Nacogdoches, w/ a few modifications. The cross is made of the wood used for back/sides (Honduran rosewood). The crown itself is gold pearl, the row of "jewels" are 2mm paua dots, the pearls on top are 1.5mm dots w/ a 2mm dot in the center. The inner part of the crown is red ab.

As always, thanks for looking,

Steve

Author:  clavin [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Awesome Steve!

I love the whole composition and materials mix. Take back what you said last week about feeling bad about your inlay work.. it's beautiful.

bliss bliss

Craig L

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Oh crud, Craig I had hoped this one would slip by you...
But your kind remarks are most welcome. Thanks Craig!
You will sympathize how difficult it is to photograph an inlay.
Not only is this out of focus, but the glare is still there, ruining the depth of colors. Ah well...use your imagination

Steve

Author:  KenH [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

WOW Steve! WOW !!

I love it! I know this must have been a bear to get lined up as good as you did it and you just simply nailed this one!!


WOW !!

By the way, can you give a hint as to what the white inlays are along the edge of the fingerboard are and how you did this?

Author:  Chris Oliver [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Steve, I love the multi-piece inlays... How inspiring, I can't wait for my next build and some help from Craig! ;)

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Thanks, guys!

Chris, Craig's the man. (Of course, Paul's the man, too. Mucho talent 'round these parts.)

Ken, THANKS! Those white "inlays" are simply w/b purfling glued to the edge of the fretboard--and slotted through--before the rosewood binding went on. The white is against the ebony, while the black is against the rosewood, and thus disappears. It's easy, and outlines the board nicely. Looks particularly nice when used w/ maple bindings, as both the white and black show.

Steve

Author:  Rod True [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Steve that is really beautiful! [clap] [clap] [clap]

I have on question/observation. The Top 2mm pearl looks really close to the fret slot, it's not going to be covered by the fret is it?

Author:  Jim Watts [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Steve,
I really like that.
Very nicely done.

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Jim, Rod, many thanks.
Rod, the 2mm dot falls below the fret bead, but is a bit closer than I'd like. (Good eye... :cry: )
Somewhere between layout and routing the whole ensemble moved up 1/32" or so. Frets went in yesterday, and it looks pretty good though.

Steve

Author:  Rod True [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Cool, sorry for having that good eye. Wish my ears where that good.

Author:  Anthony Z [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Clever choice of materials Steve and very nicely executed!

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Rod, when I string it up, we'll see if you can hear that 1/32" goof.

Anthony, your opinion is highly valued. Thanks.

Steve

Author:  John Kinnaird jr [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

That looks great bro! [:Y:]

Author:  Pete Harrington [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Hi Steve,

Very, Very Nice!

Can you comment on how you created the "pocket" for the cross? The fit looks very tight, I'm curious how you did the outer corners.

Well done! [clap]

Pete

Author:  Brad T [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Very nice! I like it!

Author:  Alain Desforges [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Steve, that is mint! I'm not usually a huge fan of fingerboard inlays but your design is elegant, tactful and superbly executed!

Did you actually drill out all the middle dots or did you give yourself the 2mm and then filled in the gaps with epoxy or some such???

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Ah, thanks, bro.

Pete, I appreciate the kind words. The channel for the cross was done with a tiny square bit. Bring it right up to the corner, and... :lol:
No, no, actually what I used was a small Dremel burr, the smallest one they sell. And actually, it does a nice job getting right up to a corner. A bit of fine chisel work was done with LMI's 2mm chisel, which is a honey of a tool. That said, the slot was not perfect, but oh the joys of inlaying in ebony! You can hide small discrepancies soooo easily.

Brad and Alain, thank you. Alain, what I did to get those little paua dots in there was this:
The upper and lower parts of the crown were first cut out, then fitted to each other. When the curvature mated nicely, I laid them both face down on some masking tape. The little paua dots were then inserted and jostled into place. When all was lined up, I held the composition together with two fingers wrapped up in tape while the other hand dispensed some super glue. This dried quickly. When set, it all came up (as a unit) off the masking tape fairly easily, with only a minimum of scraping needed to free up the last bits of crud. I now wish I has used some black CA, as that would have given even more contrast to the paua dots. But the glue I used completely filled the voids around the dots, so there I am, stuck with what you see.
It ain't Craig L- type work, but it's ok...

Thanks again,

Steve

Author:  ChuckH [ Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Nice inlay!

Author:  Dave Anderson [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Excellent inlay Steve! [:Y:] I really like the crown!!
WoW ! [clap] [clap]

Author:  Wes McMillian [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

I really, really, really like this! Mind if I copy the design for a current build?

Author:  Sheldon Dingwall [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Wow, that's really nicely done!

Author:  stan thomison [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Love it. Like someone said, elegant.

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 12th Fret Inlay (Cross & Crown)

Chuck, Dave, Wes, Sheldon and Stan I truly appreciate your thumbs-up. I hope the new owner feels the same way!
Wes, I don't mind at all if you copy. (Afterall, I borrowed this myself from a stained glass window.) You might want to play with the crown's composition a bit, to make it more your own. As a matter of fact, I change it some each time I do one, so they're all different. If you use gold lip pearl, look for the pieces that have the color all the way through the piece. So that when you radius the inlay, the color remains.

Thanks again,

Steve

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/