This is one of my inlays

nickao

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Feb 24, 2008
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Below is a project link. It was not made for this site and does not have loads of Festools and is not really ready for publication at all as a project. I have another 150 pics to add and then I have to comment and put the pics in order, take some out, etc. Finally, I will have to add the final pictures.

This is the link ink through the web site of completed inlays, please email me for construction pictures:

Inlays

Nick
 
It's pretty impressive to see a lowly stack of wood chunks end up as a precise and delicate (and large!) inlay. It seems a bit daunting, seeing that initial pile of wood, and knowing how it turns out. Nice work.

I was thinking of doing some inlay of maple dog paw prints in our new Brazilian cherry (Lauzon engineered) floor. Have you done something like that? Are there some pitfalls that I should know about? I was figuring I could do it with a pattern and guide bushing set, and only inlay the upper 3/8 inch or so...
 
Nick,

This is a dazzling piece of work, and I am looking forward to your forthcoming description. Truly gorgeous! I am loaded with questions, but I think we are better served having you organize a presentation at your own pace and linking to it, rather than asking for details, one by one. If you think a list of questions from FOG members will help you create a better presentation, please let us know.

I was just wondering, however, whether anyone has commissioned you to make optical illusion inlays. (Consider that a question, even though it wasn't phrased as such.) I could stare at one of those for hours on end.
 
Very NICE indeed! I too will be waiting for a new thread from you. Beautiful.

Eiji
 
the gathering of talent here is unbeatable. This is the ww babylon.

Eiji
 
Nick,
      Very impressive work!
      Looking forward to seeing a detailed how to as I am considering laying a new floor and would truly love some sort of inlay as a center piece.

Colin
 
Nick

Amazing craftsmanship.  Can't wait to see more examples with the details.    Love the "blake" set.

Do you only do floors, or have you also done similar details as inlays on tables, boxes, or other items?

neil
 
nickao said:
Thanks guys for the compliments. I just got done adding comments to most every picture so please check the link check again, questions may or may not be answered already.

I think I will just make another inlay into a project to meet the scope of this forum because it will be simpler from scratch. I will take the pictures knowing the file size format I need rather than re-formatting so many pictures to work. Plus I have a few neat designs coming up that may interest more people than a nautical design.

If you do look at the project pictures on flickr you can comment on each and any picture and I will be notified of the comment or question. That way it is on the picture you are asking about and I do not have to go back and forth to this thread and flickr.

I wish there was a way to do that here. For example in Eiji's thread, once he puts up a picture a converstaion starts then another question and it is tough to follow. On flickr the questions stay on the page the picture is on and the running comments are for each picture instead of getting mixed up.

It would be neat for comments, questions and ideas to stick to the bottom of the actual posts Eiji made, instead of another post just getting added again and again.  Every time Eiji made a post for the PROJECT the correlating stuff would stick to the bottom of that post only and not skip through the thread. Does that make sense? In any case I have never seen that format on a forum, just a thought.

But like I said, this is about the only project I will use flickr for on this forum. And will most likely link to my personal web site.
I will post some pdf 's of all my projects here  for easy printing and reading though, but I only want my pdf's available for members of this forum. I think it is set up that way now I will find out.

Eiji I would love to see your project condensed without any user comments into a project pdf. I really think any one doing a project should consider this.

Nick

I think I looked at every photo on your flickr site. Very thorough set of pics of an impressive project.

A lot of good suggestions in this post too. A pdf of a completed project would be a great resource.

A question about the pattern, is it printed by a sign shop? If not, what makes it shiny?
 
nickao said:
Well I make them. Drawn by hand.

I have Used CAD files to have kinkos print them up in the past. BUT and a big BUT, they are not good at keeping things exactly to scale. I send them a perfect file with measurements printed on it, it comes back wrong. And they started charging to much, up to 160.00 and more if they get much bigger than 42".

I  then started using a film I purchase by the roll that is used on photo posters that are displayed outside in all weather. This stuff is great and needs to be sanded off and even that is tough to do. It is difficult to work with because you get no second chances.

Believe it or not, regular old packing tape, overlapped a 1/4" is the best way and is what you are seeing in the pics.

I started that way and am back to it.

It is the cheapest, last the longest, is the most easily repairable and by far the easiest and fastest material to work with.

So in short its packing tape. Simple is best in this case.

Nick

Table out today.

That nautical design pattern is "relatively easy" to draw with straight lines and compass work but how about that pineapple pattern? How did you do the type on that, "Welcome" I think?

So you draw it out on large paper then cover it with packing tape so when you glue all the little pieces together the glue squeeze out will pop off the pattern?
 
I'm in awe!!!!!!  How many hours do you have in the nautical inlay? Is the pineapple your next project? 
 
nickao said:


It takes a knack, believe me. I do not show pictures, but flipping the 60" upside down to check for tight seams with out breaking it to pieces is a tricky maneuver. But the glue is strong and if done right works great.

Nick



I envision a vacuum powered "octopus" rig to help you do that.
 
Nick, fabulous work. Very meticulous. Must have the patience of job. Some questions, if I may:
1) can I view the pictures in slide show fashion rather than back and forth one at a time?
2) you mentioned packing take...which one: the brown paper that you lick and lay down or the nylon filament pressure tape;
3) what dust collection do you have for t he bench disc sander; do you switch it over to the boom hose?
4) did I read the notes correctly and you do two of these a week?
5) how large is your shop.
6) what glue do you use for all the segments and do you glue as you go or wait till all done.
7) do you tilt the scroll saw table at all?
 
Nick,
  Thanks for setting up the slide show button. it worked fine. In going to your website, I appreciated all the designs you have in your portfolio and the amount of experience you have in that niche business. One thing: I noticed "16" Star Inlay 129.00 USA"  . That has to be a typo. can you really have a $19 item? I also think that a lot of your other pricing seems low but I am sure experience dictates here.
 
 
I can't see the pictures....it says the page is "private", even after I log in. 
 
Nick has decided to leave the forum. Evidently he has decided to make his Flickr account private also.
 
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