Official Luthiers Forum!

Right. So, question: I'm planning on doing a dual-ring abalone rosette (similar to the one Steve Kinnaird recently posted, actually, but with a spalt maple core, to go on that jumbo design I posted a while back). Question is this: I've found a good deal on curved strips with either a 115mm diameter (4.5") or a 125mm diameter (a hair under 5"). Thing is, the thicknesses on the two are different so...is it easier to break and fit a larger diameter curve into a smaller diameter one, or a smaller diameter curve into a larger one?

Larger into smaller.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

I agree Larger into small. You can break and miter straights enough times to make a small curve but you will always have a gap formed by the small curved if you try to fit tight curved strip to a larger curved channelMichaelP38737.6445486111

Thanks guys. I'm going to go do some more designing, figure out exactly what it is I want to do, and decide what to get...

I heard that!

Makes sense too.

Mattia--

If you use narrow enough pieces, say 1/16" wide (don't ask what that is in metric), they will more easily conform to the radius you choose. On that rosette pictured, I'm using pieces cut to the same radius (don't know what) for both the inner and outer rings. It's almost as if--within reason--you can "bend" those little suckers.
By the way, that geenuwine paua was from Andy Depaul, and it was his 1/16" material. Ask him to color match for you and he will.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com