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I played around plenty with making and inlaying wooden rosettes, but I'd like to try a MOP rosette on one of my next classicals I'm going to build. My question is how do you do this with MOP? I would like about a 1/2 inch wide solid MOP rosette around the soundhole. I've never used this stuff so any help would be appreciated. Are they cut solid from a single piece? How do you cut them?

Thanks!

John

John most of it comes in smaller than that pieces and you cut it with a saw, MAKE SURE wear mask( I full mask) and have good ventilation that stuff can be nasty and it is very fine. Tell you what I have the inlay book from James Patterson "pearl inlay" I can loan you for awhile if you want it. Just send me address and give me until next week to send it to you. e-mail address is rondathomison@sbcglobal.net You can also order it through stew mac. The stuff Craig did in the online work shop may also still be on the old site. He gives a pretty good tool list and book does same and some jigs to use

I have my D logos made in Texas. They glue it to a 1/2 inch plywood base with hide glue, then rout with a cnc to a preset set of specs. They write a program. You could make the pieces using a StewMac Circle cutter, with your pearl glued in place to a work board, might make to circles of pieces to complete one rosette. Soaking in a five gallon bucket of water over night releases the pearl. Don't ask me how you'd miter the end to ends, but there is something to be said for symmetry and matching the pieces.

You'll figure it out. Cand N show a block of wood cut in a circle, mounted on a shaft, and covered with sandpaper glued on, they cut the piece then sand to perfection. Good luck with this project. I like mine ready to go..... if you know what I mean.

Thanks for the offer on the book Stan. This sounds like it actually might be a little more than I was planning on for a one-time guitar. I normally use wooden rosettes but wanted MOP to go with the crazy zoot maple I got from Bob. Do you all have any references on where I can buy a pre-made MOP rosette? Bruce, who's your connection in Texas?

Thanks!

John

I buy my stuff from Allen supply. I generally use Ablam because the top few layers are all very nice, it is very easy to hide the seams, and it is pretty easy to work with.

Other's have expressed that this does not look organic enough.. and I agree that is true. I guess it is just what you like.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Brock,

Do they have a website? I googled it and couldn't find anything that looked like the right place. Do you buy the ablam there or can you buy completed rosettes made from Ablam?

Does Craig Lavin do this kind of work or does he only do inlays?

Cheers!

John

John,
here is Allan's address
http://www.allenguitar.com/

also check out LMI, and stewmac.
as well as the OlF Luthers online resources page and there are links to the following suppliers

Shell Pearl and Ivory suppliers
Ivory Buyer
Rescue Pearl
DePaule

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

John,

Check out this link to DePaule. Rosette strips.

I have not bought from them, but it looks like a good product at a good price. Lance had posted about not being able to get a response from them for a long time, so check with him and see if they ever responded to him. But I think they were on a super extended vacation.

Jeff

He makes my "D" Logo. He could cut these wide parts Cnc no problem. Hold on to your wallet, how bad do you want a special wide rosette in MOP? Of course you can buy blanks, cut by hand, file and fit. It would be gorgeous.

I think if you look at Andy DaPaule's site he said he is going to be on vacation from the middle of December through Jan 19th. I am not sure how long that has been on the site, but I am sure that is the reason for the communication delay. I have bought shell from him before and he is a very nice guy and helpful.

I like Randy(?) Allen's ablam because he has more width offerings than anyone else I have bought from. You can buy the completed rosette pieces (you have to fit them together, but they are already cut). Most suppliers either carry .0625" or .09xx". Allen Supply has both smaller and larger options.

Just my .02 worth...bpoling38366.4348958333

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I have bought from DePaule abot 4 times and have allways had great service. They have been gone since mid December and will be gone till mid January per their web site.

Good prices and nice folks..

Gary

Of course I can do it.
I haven't been asked to yet, but all I would need is the exact outline pattern.
Craig Lavin

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Hi Craig,

I'd like just a perfectly round rosette with an inner diameter of 3-7/8 and 1/4" thick. As far as material, it doesn't have to be MOP, just something "light" colored and natural. I'm not too familiar with Abalam or Abalone, but I like the idea of having hints of other color like aqua or turquois tint, with a predominantly whitish/silver color. Does that make sense?

E-mail me at elshaw2003@yahoo.com if you're interested. I'd like to get an idea of what this would cost and what you recommend for materials.

Thanks!

John

I'll chime in with Brock. Allen Supply has nice rosettes. Look at the picture of the OLF project guitar as that is where it came from. He has good prices and is a pleasure to deal with.

Craig, not trying to take away a commision, just passing along another recommendation.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Don't worry something this size is not what I call a commission.

Craig.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Craig, I take it from your non-response that you're not interested? I know it's not a big "commission", but you posted saying all somebody had to do was ask.

For those of you who use Allen supply, what is the standard size ring his curved pieces make? Can you adjust the diameter using those pieces?

Does anybody know a good resource online for making rosettes? Not the traditional classical type, but more along the lines of some of the contempory rosettes I've seen on guitars around here.

Cheers!

John

I don't know specifically what diameter the Allen curved pieces are cut to. However, I have a 4.25" I.D. on my shell rosettes and the breaks are very clean.. You have to work hard to find where they have been snapped.

Not the answer to your question, but perhaps it helps.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Another good sourcer for custom rosettes is Masecraft. Easy to deal with and they will cut to your dimensions.

http://www.masecraftsupply.com/

[QUOTE=russ] Another good sourcer for custom rosettes is Masecraft. Easy to deal with and they will cut to your dimensions.

http://www.masecraftsupply.com/[/QUOTE]

Wow, thanks for the link. First chance I've had to see all the variations available in recon stone. That turtle shell might make a real nice perfling.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA